The role of social media in spreading panic among primary and secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online questionnaire study from the Gaza Strip, Palestine

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05807
• Publication Date: 2020-12-21T07:27:10Z
• Authors: Eqbal Radwan; Afnan Radwan; Walaa Radwan
• Keywords: Pandemic; Misinformation

BackgroundThe rapid outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up various issues on social media platforms among school students. The dangerous issue is that misinformation, fake news, and rumours spread faster than reliable information, also virus itself, damaging health systems affecting mental users.ObjectiveThe current study aims at determining how affects panic about primary secondary students in Gaza Strip, Palestine.MethodsThe data were collected through an online questionnaire. By utilizing convenience sampling, we have reached a total 1067 students, aged between 6 18 years, from 56 schools located Palestine. Independent Samples T-test, ANOVA, chi-square tests used to compare data.ResultsThe results showed significant impact spreading with potential negative their psychological well-being. Facebook was most common platform (81.8%), where female had higher likelihood male use it get news (p < 0.001). Health frequently topic seen, read, or heard (n = 529, 56.2%) during pandemic, males more likely follow females majority 736, 78.1%) psychologically affected, whereas those physically affected lowest 12, 1.3%). Female experienced greater fear significantly effect depending student's age gender. This positive correlation (R 0.891).ConclusionsDuring closure schools, are using continue learning as well know information outbreak. Social main role rapidly Strip.