The Mystification and Demystification of Shared Information on COVID-19 across Cyber Mediated News Networks: A Sociological Approach to Solutions for Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) hit the news headlines as a pandemic bound to affect millions of people around the world, and news media took responsibility to warn people, country heads, businesses, and private and non-governmental institutions about the virus. However, stories swirling on social media platforms about the origin and nature of Covid-19 as well as questionable reporting by established news networks have left the public questioning the integrity of the real causes of the virus, how it spreads and whether treatment standards equate the hoopla about the genesis of the “pandemic.” This paper reviews narratives about the mystification and demystification of Covid-19. It departs from the premise that the media frames ways in which people consume and use news. The paper then suggests ways in which policymakers should handle newsflow on Covid-19, how consumers should screen news, and how journalists should report Covid-19 ethically.