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- Title
Systemic Crisis of Infodemic in a Pandemic: COVID-19, 5G Network, Society and Symbolic Interactionism.
- Authors
Achem, Victor Onyilor; Ani, Kelechi Johnmary
- Abstract
The world has not been the same since the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The disease has affected virtually every facet of the economies and social life and events of striving countries across the globe. Several conspiracy theories have been established on the origin, scope, prevention, management of the pandemic, including links to 5G development. This has led to the creation of an "infodemic" about the pandemic. The objective of the study was to examine people's perceptions of the link between COVID-19 and the 5G network, interpret their attitude towards the pandemic, and analyse possible ways of managing the infodemic crisis in Nigeria. The Symbolic interactionism theory was used to examine the constructed meanings attached to the evolving 5G network and the dynamics of rejection, an action influenced by conspiracy theories associating with the 5G operation to the breakout of COVID-19. The study adopted a qualitative method to elicit data from purposively selected participants within FCT-Abuja, Nigeria. In this study, one of the main concepts of interactionism is the belief that people strive for something based on both the significance of events and the implications that arise from the cycle of socialization. As such, the study recommended improved peace journalism, which discourages fear and violence in media reporting at a time of global pandemic-engendered fear. Thus, the fears created by the deaths, lockdown and other effects of the pandemic could be managed through peace journalism.
- Publication
Journal of African Film & Diaspora Studies (JAFDIS), 2022, Vol 5, Issue 4, p29
- ISSN
2516-2705
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.31920/2516-2713/2022/5n4a2