Social Media and COVID-19

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
In this protocol, we seek to examine the role of popular messaging platform WhatsApp in information spread during a crisis. As there have been few global crises in the last decade (coinciding with the rise of social media), the role of private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp during crisis contexts remains understudied. During the current COVID-19 global health crisis, we undertook this study to: (1) characterize the nature of WhatsApp use during crises, (2) characterize the profiles of WhatsApp users (3) understand how WhatsApp usage links to well-being (fear and thoughts about COVID-19).

Official Title
-----------------
Tracking WhatsApp Behaviors During a Crisis: A Longitudinal Observation of Messaging Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Conditions
-----------------
Coronavirus, Depression, Anxiety, Stress

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Social media & news consumption


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: At least 21 years Has stayed in Singapore for at least 2 years Has a WhatsApp account that can be used for the research study Exclusion Criteria: Below 21 years Has stayed in Singapore for less than 2 years Does not have a WhatsApp account that can be used for the research study

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Community sample<br>We plan to recruit a representative sample of the Singapore population. | Behavioral: Social media & news consumption<br>* Daily reports of social media use and consumption, including reports on receiving and disseminating news articles related to the COVID-19 situation (e.g., how many messaging groups shared news on the outbreak, how many items related to the outbreak they forwarded to others, etc).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WhatsApp usage | Participants were asked a series of questions daily related to their WhatsApp usage behaviors - in particular, their message-forwarding, personal chat and group chat behaviors. | 1 week, starting from date after baseline survey completion | 
| Changes in fear with regards the COVID-19 situation across 1 week | 1 item each day on fear specifically of the COVID-19 situation (measured on a 4 point scale: min = 1, max = 4; higher scores indicating greater fear about the outbreak). | 1 week, starting from date after baseline survey completion | 
| Changes in amount of thinking about the COVID-19 situation across 1 week | 1 item each day on how much they thought about the outbreak that day (measured on a 5 point scale: min = 1, max = 5; higher scores indicating more thinking about the outbreak). | 1 week, starting from date after initial survey completion | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
COVID-19, Social Media, Misinformation