An unhelpful chain: Antecedents and consequences of COVID-19 news avoidance in China and Singapore

Abstract

This study used large-scale telephone surveys in China and Singapore in 2022 to examine the antecedents and outcomes of news avoidance amid the COVID-19 “infodemic.” The findings suggested a sequential process: Exposure to COVID-19 misinformation was related to information overload and subsequent news avoidance, which in turn was a correlate of skepticism toward vaccines. Moreover, the government’ pandemic-control policies conditioned the process. Under the “living with COVID” policy, Singaporean respondents exhibited greater exposure to misinformation and showed more pronounced vaccine distrust. In contrast, feeling overloaded, Chinese respondents under “zero-COVID” policy were more likely to avoid news about the pandemic.