International Journal of Academic Library and Information Science
IJALIS
ISSN: 2360-7858
Vol. 9(8), pp. 400-405. August, 2021.
ISSN: 2360-7858
https://doi.org/10.14662/ijalis2021345
Full Length Research
Information dissemination in the face of COVID-19 pandemic: Information literacy question and the role of social media in production and sharing of information
1Njideka Nwawih C. OJUKWU, 2David KUKU, 3Mahmud Mamman Mustapha and 4Danjuma Saidu
1Federal University Lokoja. Corresponding author’s E-mail:njinwawih@yahoo.com
2Francis Suleimanu Idachaba Library, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi. E-mail: kukudavid2014@gmail.com
3Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria. E-mail: mahmud112@yahoo.com
4Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State. E-mail: reachout2dj@gmail.com
Accepted 19 August 2021
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Abstract |
The paper sought information dissemination in the face of COVID-19 pandemic: information literacy question; the role of social media in production and sharing of information. The objectives of the study were to: examine information literacy rate among the undergraduate students; ascertain the importance of information literacy in the fight against Covid 19 pandemic and investigate the impact of social media on information dissemination on Covid 19 pandemic. Survey research design of descriptive type was used to generate data from participants. The data retrieved was subjected to descriptive analysis. The population consisted of 390 undergraduate students of Geography and Regional planning Department, Benue state university Makurdi, with the sample of 77 using stratify proportional sampling technique. The paper revealed among others that, most of what undergraduate student of geography and regional planning Benue state university Makurdi “Like”, “share” or recommend online is often as a result of they believe rather than concerns about human right & development implications; only a small percentage of the student critically evaluate information before believing it; media information literacy empowers people to be curious to understand their information needs & use for common good; information literacy is important in the fight against Covid- 19 and most Covid 19 information on the social media is overhyped and misleading. The paper recommended that, Governments, academics, digital platforms, fact checkers, concerned institutions and the public urgently need a collective understanding of what is meant by the terms mis-, and dis-information (infodemic) to check the future damage from the scourge.
Keywords: Information, Dissemination, Infodemic, Information literacy and COVID-19 pandemic
| Cite This Article As: OJUKWU, N.N.C., KUKU, D., Mustapha, M.M., Saidu, D. ((2021). Information dissemination in the face of COVID-19 pandemic: Information literacy question and the role of social media in production and sharing of information. Inter. J. Acad. Lib. Info. Sci. 9(8): 400-405 | |