Pandemic and Infodemic: The Role of Social Media in Disinformation Relating to COVID-19 in Italy

With the growing use of the internet through mobile devices, we witness a change in the ways of gathering information: search engines, blogs and social networks seem to supersede traditional media, such as newspapers, radio and TV. The circulation of fake news encounters lower barriers online and it contributes to making the end of the COVID-19 pandemic more difficult: the confusion engendered by false contents can compromise people's cooperation on necessary measures and restrictions in the fight of the current pandemic. This study investigates the role of social media in the spread of false information in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, using a sample of Italian university students. Our econometric results show that the use of social media as a source of information for COVID-19 is positively associated with disinformation. This finding suggests a considerable policy implication: countering fake news is a relevant tool for combating the pandemic.