Coronavirus rumors in China: content, spread and control policy

Since the explosive outbreak of a novel coronavirus (now known as 2019-nCoV) in China’s Hubei province, a large quantity of information on epidemic prevention and control has been disseminate rapidly. The extensive spread of fake Internet news has an extremely negative psychological impact on individuals and society, and slows down the fight against the epidemic. The concern about proliferation of misleading information, rumors and myths has caused governments across the world to institute various interventionist steps to stem their flow.

The article explores the rumor phenomenon, including the definition of the rumors and famous rumor spread models. The author uses Chinese “Jiazhen” platform (official online platform for releasing rumors) as a data resource to collect popular Chinese rumors on corona-virus epidemic, analyzes the main content, characteristics and reasons of rumor spread. In addition to it, the censorship policy of the Chinese government is discussed. China has one of the world’s most restrictive media environments, relying on censorship to control information in the news, online, and on social media. China, with its authoritarian political system and stricter information control, has effectively restricted the circulation of fake news/rumors during COVID-19 outbreak.

During the crisis period, the authoritarian regime emphasizes ‘social responsibility’, ‘public security’ and ‘social order’ as rationale for censoring the information on social media platforms and the Chinese citizens are ready to cooperate. The articles explores the main mechanisms that were used to control the spreading of rumors, identifies their problems and opportunities.

Keywords

China, COVID-19, novel coronavirus, Internet rumors, rumor spread, rumor policy

Received

15.12.2020

Publication date

28.03.2021

Number of characters

21325

Cite

GOST	Vasilyeva M. Coronavirus rumors in China: content, spread and control policy // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 3 C. 58-63 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750014286-6-1 (circulation date: 20.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014286-6
MLA	Vasilyeva, Marina A "Coronavirus rumors in China: content, spread and control policy." Asia and Africa Today 3 (2021):58-63. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014286-6
APA	Vasilyeva M. (2021). Coronavirus rumors in China: content, spread and control policy. Asia and Africa Today (3), pp.58-63 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014286-6

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