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Assignment Overview Students will write a well-developed research paper on the contemporary global issue that they have identified for the Annotated Bibliography and Source Integration Paper. The paper should be a work of critical analysis, meaning that it should formulate an original and compelling argument about the subject matter and should support that argument with relevant evidence and sound reasoning.  The central argument of the paper should correspond clearly to one of the five argument types described in Chapters 8-12 of the textbook.             Students will be expected to use material from the Source Integration Paper, but that material should be significantly revised and reworked in order to contribute to the development of the argument within the research paper.   Assignment Outcomes ·       Identify and explain a specific global issue that is relevant and compelling for a specific audience of academic readers. ·       Develop a well-constructed thesis statement that responds to the issue and corresponds to one of the five argument types described in Chapters 8-12 of the textbook. ·       Organized a sustained argument that is sensitive to expectations of the academic audience for the paper. ·       Use multiple types of evidence/support in developing the paper’s argument. ·       Use library databases to find appropriate source material. ·       Distinguish between academic and non-academic sources and use different types of sources in appropriate ways. ·       Integrate source references, including direct quotations, using signal phrases (attributive tags) and parenthetical in-text citations (APA format). ·       Synthesize source references from more than one source. ·       Significantly revise material from previous work on the issue (Source Integration Paper) ·       Construct a properly formatted works cited page using APA guidelines.   Requirements Length: 1,800-2,000 words. Format: Follow APA guidelines. Source Usage: Six sources, at least four of them academic, peer reviewed.  The paper must demonstrate effective summary, paraphrase, and quotation using signal phrases and parenthetical citations for attribution.  The paper must include a properly formatted works cited page with two full bibliographical citations. Submission: Submit through Turnitin

Impact and Role of Social Media in Current Pandemic

Gretchen Lambert

Cyfair Lone Star College

Impact and Role of Social Media in Current Pandemic

Introduction

Today, social media platforms have become an effective tool that can be used to spread information regarding the current pandemic that has become a threat to millions of people worldwide. Since the emergence of COVID-19 in 2019, in Wuhan province in China, there has been plenty of information and news reports published as well as shared on social media platforms and other social networking websites (Ahmad and Murad, 2020). Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have turned out to be the primary source of information. Also, companies and organizations have turned to social media platforms for commercial purposes and common purposes. Currently, this novel pandemic has caused companies and organizations to use these platforms to brand, market, and sell their products as well as creating robust connections with their customers. This essay is set to discuss the role and the impact of social media platforms during Coronavirus.

Body

Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a severe global health disaster that has a deep effect on the way we observe our world and our daily lives. Over the last few years, social media platforms have developed more rapidly and hence increasing the number of people who use social media platforms to access and information from public health departments as well as sharing and facilitating effective and efficient communication during public health emergencies. During this period, social media has become a vital channel for promoting risk communication. Besides, during this period, people need to have access to both reliable and timely information about the pandemic spread, symptoms as well as prevention. According to Li et al. (2020), Sina Microblog, one of China’s primary social media platforms, has become increasingly crucial for the public to communicate and share information about the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, social media platforms serve to provide relevant informal sources of data to identify health information that is yet to be reported to medical practitioners or the appropriate health departments.

The world health organization and relevant healthcare departments are currently using social media platforms to share possible guidelines and measures that should be taken to prevent further spread of the pandemic. Some of the shared guidelines and measures in the social media platforms include enhancing social distancing to avoid close contacts, wearing masks, enhancing cleanliness and disinfection of hands, and monitoring our health status daily. With such information on social media platforms, the public will be able to keep safe and provide a clear understanding of what is occurring now and how this pandemic may affect us and those we love and care (Ahmad and Murad, 2020). The support team that has been employed by social media platforms is also playing a vital role in responding to information searches about the pandemic. It is also increasing, and at times, dominating online conversations. For example, Facebook uses the news feed function to direct its users to the World Health Organization and other relevant websites from the local health authorities. Besides, some of the online publishing organizations, as well as google scholar, have allowed free access to academic journals that address this global pandemic.

Furthermore, social media has become a diagnostic tool and a referral system during this Coronavirus period. This is because social media platforms are disseminating trustworthy information on when to be tested for the pandemic, addressing what to with the results, and articulating where to get care. Besides, in the case of Coronavirus vaccine turn out to be available, the same social media platforms will be used to inspire uptake as addressing challenges that might be associated with the vaccine hesitancy. According to Merchant and Lurie (2020), social media platforms such as Facebook Preventive health tool provides vetted guidelines to individuals concerning health recommendations. This platform later directs its user to targeted locations where they can access the required services. This platform can be modified to address people where they can get resources for COVID-19 testing.

Social Media has become a reliable tool that offers more connectivity and offers psychological first aid to the affected groups. During this period, new forms of social segregation are occurring as people are continuing to enhance self-quarantine and also telecommunication. Navigating through social isolation has turned out to be challenging, especially for disadvantaged groups such as the elderly, the poor, and those trying to manage chronic illness and disabilities. These platforms have been used to create awareness to the public about the needs of those disadvantaged groups calling for the development of new methods for the community for resource mobilization as well as providing the necessary support in the nonappearance of physical contact. Psychological first aid can be offered through social media platforms such as chatbots (Merchant and Lurie 2020). Chatbots use artificial intelligence when learning from millions of communications that occur in response to this novel pandemic, as well as providing a clear understanding of the critical needs.

Social media platforms have played an important role in advancing remote learning. Currently, many institutions around have been closed due to the pandemic. Some of the learning institutions have moved entirely online learning, where students use e-learning materials and other social media platforms to communicate with their tutors. Also, social media have enabled frontline healthcare providers to benefit from being able to share their personal experiences broadly in a more de-identified way that enhances teaching and advancing in education in an evolving crisis. Social Media has turned out to be a marking platform (Natividad. 2020). Many organizations and companies are offering their services through the internet. Branding, marketing, and selling of products are being conducted via online social media platforms. Many businesses are providing empathetic and powerful responses towards this global pandemic. Organizations such as Netflix are offering entertainment services to those who are bored at home at reduced streaming costs.

However, social media platforms can also be an effective source of misinformation despite social media having a positive impact during this period. Currently, we are living in an “infodemic era” where fake news is becoming more common. This fake news and reports always start in the same way. They feature healthcare providers, as well as any other authorities responsible for sharing information concerning the pandemic. The range of misinformation along social media platforms affects athletic performances and promotes illegal practices that upsurge the spread of the disease. According to Tasnim, Hossain, and Mazumder, (2020), mass media, healthcare organizations, and other relevant stakeholders should develop a strategic partnership and launch common platforms that will be used to disseminate authentic messages about this global pandemic. Moreover, advanced technologies such as data mining approaches should be implemented by the social media platforms to detect and remove any online content that does not incorporate a scientific source from all social media platforms.

In conclusion, social media platforms are extremely important in fighting this contagious disease. These platforms have become a reliable source of information at this period of COVID-19. Governments and relevant healthcare authorities are using social media platforms to spread updates, news, and scientific discoveries about Coronavirus. The shared information includes measures to be implemented to prevent further spread of the disease, those who are supposed to be tested when they should be tested, and where they should get medical care. Also, these media platforms, such as Facebook, are providing directions relating to the pandemic. During this period, social media platforms are being used for education purposes where students and physicians are hosting webinars to conduct discussions about Coronavirus. However, social media platforms should ensure that they are not sharing the wrong information to the public. Only verified information from the health sector and the government should be shared. This will help to minimize panic among the people. Mass media, healthcare organizations, and other relevant stakeholders should develop a strategic partnership and launch common platforms that will be used to disseminate authentic messages about this global pandemic.

References

Ahmad, A. R., & Murad, H. R. (2020). The impact of social Media on panic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iraqi Kurdistan: an online questionnaire study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(5), e19556. https://www.jmir.org/2020/5/e19556/

Li, J., Xu, Q., Cuomo, R., Purushothaman, V., & Mackey, T. (2020). Data mining and content analysis of the Chinese social media platform Weibo during the early COVID-19 outbreak: retrospective observational infoveillance study. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 6(2), e18700. DOI: 10.2196/18700

Merchant, R. M., & Lurie, N. (2020). Social media and emergency preparedness in response to novel coronavirus. Jama.  doi:10.1001/jama.2020.4469

Natividad. I. (2020). “COVID-19 and the media: The role of journalism in a global pandemic.” Berkeley News, news.berkeley.edu/2020/05/06/covid-19-and-the-media-the-role-of-journalism-in-a-global-pandemic/

Tasnim, S., Hossain, M. M., & Mazumder, H. (2020). Impact of rumors or misinformation on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in social media. 10.31235/osf.io/uf3zn