Elena Link, Magdalena Rosset, Anna Freytag

Patterns of Online Information Seeking and Avoidance about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

Introduction

Patterns of online information seeking and avoidance about sars-cov-2 and covid-19. Learn how people seek and avoid online information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. This study reveals patterns and factors to optimize health crisis information environments.

Abstract

Based on the uncertainty management theory considering different information-based coping strategies that are relevant during health crises, the purpose of the present study is to understand how individuals seek and avoid information during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on online information seeking and avoidance because of the high share of people searching for information about the pandemic online and the questionable quality of information about the virus available online. Data for this qualitative exploratory study were collected in semi-structured interviews with 21 participants. Our findings revealed four information-seeking patterns that can be located on a continuum between more active, targeted, and less purposeful acquisitions of information, and three avoidance patterns that are distinguished by different motives to avoid certain information. The findings on specific factors involved in individuals’ choices between seeking and avoiding information will help to design better information environments and to identify barriers to the adequate use of information during such crises.

Review

The study "Patterns of Online Information Seeking and Avoidance about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19" presents a highly relevant and timely investigation into individual information behaviors during a health crisis. Utilizing uncertainty management theory as its framework, the research effectively addresses how people cope with the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic by examining both active information seeking and deliberate avoidance strategies, particularly in the online realm. The qualitative exploratory design, based on semi-structured interviews with 21 participants, is well-suited for uncovering the nuanced patterns and underlying motivations behind these behaviors. The identification of four distinct information-seeking patterns and three avoidance patterns, along with the factors influencing these choices, provides valuable initial insights into a critical aspect of public health communication. While the qualitative approach offers rich descriptive data, a primary limitation noted in the abstract is the relatively small sample size of 21 participants. Although appropriate for an exploratory study aiming for depth over breadth, this inherently restricts the generalizability of the findings to broader populations. The abstract could also benefit from briefly mentioning the geographic location or key demographic characteristics of the participants to provide better contextualization for the identified patterns. Furthermore, while the findings allude to "specific factors involved in individuals’ choices between seeking and avoiding information," a more explicit categorization or examples of these factors in the abstract would enhance clarity and give a clearer preview of the mechanisms at play. Despite these points, the study's implications are significant for both theoretical advancement and practical application. By mapping out distinct patterns of online information engagement and disengagement, this research provides a crucial foundation for understanding how individuals navigate complex health information landscapes. The findings can directly inform the design of more effective public health communication campaigns, helping to create information environments that better support informed decision-making and identify barriers to the adequate use of critical health information during crises. Future research could expand on this work by employing larger, more diverse samples to validate the prevalence of these patterns, and by further dissecting the "specific factors" identified, perhaps through a more detailed thematic analysis or subsequent quantitative studies, to deepen our understanding of these critical health behaviors.

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