Download This PaperPerception of Emergent Epidemic of COVID-19 / SARS CoV-2 on the Polish Internet
26 Pages Posted: 10 Apr 2020 Last revised: 17 Jun 2020
Date Written: April 10, 2020
Abstract
Problem: Due to the spread of SARS CoV-2 virus infection and COVID-19 disease, there is an urgent need to analyze COVID-19 epidemic perception in Poland. This would enable authorities for preparation of specific actions minimizing public health and economic risks.
Methods: We study the perception of COVID-19 epidemic in Polish society using quantitative analysis of its digital footprints on the Internet (on Twitter, Google, YouTube, Wikipedia and electronic media represented by Event Registry) from January 2020 to 07.04.2020 (before and after official introduction to Poland on 04.03.2020). To this end we utilize data mining, social network analysis, natural language processing techniques. Each examined internet platform was analyzed for representativeness and composition of the target group.
Results: We identified three temporal major cluster of the interest before disease introduction on the topic COVID-19: China- and Italy-related peaks on all platforms, as well as a peak on social media related to the recent special law on combating COVID-19. Besides, there was a peak in interest on the day of officially confirmed introduction as well as an exponential increase of interest when the Polish government “declared war against disease” with a massive mitigation program. From sociolingistic perspective, we found that concepts and issues of threat, fear and prevention prevailed before introduction. After introduction, practical concepts about disease and epidemic dominate. We have found out that Twitter reflected the structural division of the Polish political sphere. We were able to identify clear communities of governing party, mainstream opposition and a protestant group and potential sources of disinformation. We have also detected blurring boundaries between communities after disease introduction.
Conclusions: Traditional and social media do not only reflect reality, but also create it. Due to filter “bubbles” observed on Twitter, public information campaigns might have less impact on society than expected. For greater penetration, it might be necessary to diversify information channels to reach as many people as possible which might already be happening. Moreover, it might be necessary to prevent the spread of disinformation, which is now possible in Poland due to the special law on combating COVID-19.
Note: Funding: PNFN (2019-21), NCN (2016/22/E/HS2/00034), and FU Berlin (FU AvH: 08166500) for partial financial support.
Conflict of Interest: No competing interests.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, risk perception, media analysis
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