Empirical studies of COVID-19 related fake news

Péter Bányász; Gréta Nagy; Ákos Molnár

doi:10.17047/Hadtud.2023.33.E.20

Péter Bányász University of Public Service, Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies, Senior Lecturer https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7308-9304
Gréta Nagy University of Public Service, Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies, student https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5893-6985
Ákos Molnár Supported by the the ÚNKP-21-2-II-NKE-142 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7095-557X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17047/Hadtud.2023.33.E.20

Keywords: sentiment analysis, fake news, network theory, survey

Abstract

Having caused a global pandemic in 2020, COVID-19 can be described as a paradigm-shifting event inmany aspects of modern life. The strict pandemic response in the beginning has gradually dissipatedover time as public support has declined. While different countries have had different approaches tomanaging COVID-19, all governments have fought a severe battle against fake news related to the virus,which in many cases has reduced the effectiveness of protection. The attitudes towards masking,lockdowns, and vaccination have become a political self-definition mechanism in many countries,influencing policy-making processes. Therefore, this study examines COVID-19-related fake news fromthree aspects: sentiment analysis, a network theory approach, and a survey.Keywords: COVID-19, sentiment analysis, fake news, network theory, survey