Social Media and Spreading Panic Among Adults During Climate Change

Mohamed, Fedaa; Mohamed, Abdelmonem; Youssef, Mostafa; Francis, Sarah

doi:10.21608/jkom.2024.354802

Social Media and Spreading Panic Among Adults During Climate Change

Authors

Faculty of Mass Communication, Ahram Canadian University

10.21608/jkom.2024.354802

Abstract

Social media is usually correlated with the potential large-scale spreading effect of whatever content is posted on any of its platforms, where terms like “viral” and “trending” usually explain that effect. As the news and constant updates about climate change came to surface over the past few years, risks of spreading panic and fear of potential climate change natural disasters emerged and became increasingly alert among the adults who use social media platforms regularly. Thus, this study examines the effect of social media usage on panic dispersal among adult users and identifies the extent to which social media can be considered a fear-causing means regarding climate change news. Moreover, this study investigates the credibility of transmitting climate-related information through social media. To understand the relationship between social media and spreading panic in climate change contexts, the study utilizes a quantitative survey applied to a sample of Egyptian adults. As a result, most respondents confirmed that social media causes them stress and anxiety about climate change and makes them vulnerable to fake news.

Keywords

References

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