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. 2020 Aug 18;42(3):510-516.
doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdaa049.

World leaders' usage of Twitter in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a content analysis

Sohaib R Rufai  1   2 , Catey Bunce  3
Affiliations

World leaders' usage of Twitter in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a content analysis

Sohaib R Rufai et al. J Public Health (Oxf). .

Abstract

Background: It is crucial that world leaders mount effective public health measures in response to COVID-19. Twitter may represent a powerful tool to help achieve this. Here, we explore the role of Twitter as used by Group of Seven (G7) world leaders in response to COVID-19.

Methods: This was a qualitative study with content analysis. Inclusion criteria were as follows: viral tweets from G7 world leaders, attracting a minimum of 500 'likes'; keywords 'COVID-19' or 'coronavirus'; search dates 17 November 2019 to 17 March 2020. We performed content analysis to categorize tweets into appropriate themes and analyzed associated Twitter data.

Results: Eight out of nine (88.9%) G7 world leaders had verified and active Twitter accounts, with a total following of 85.7 million users. Out of a total 203 viral tweets, 166 (82.8%) were classified as 'Informative', of which 48 (28.6%) had weblinks to government-based sources, while 19 (9.4%) were 'Morale-boosting' and 14 (6.9%) were 'Political'. Numbers of followers and viral tweets were not strictly related.

Conclusions: Twitter may represent a powerful tool for world leaders to rapidly communicate public health information with citizens. We would urge general caution when using Twitter for health information, with a preference for tweets containing official government-based information sources.

Keywords: COVID-19; Twitter; World leaders; communicable diseases; public health; social media.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
G7 World leaders’ individual twitter data. Breakdown of followers and viral tweet characteristics per G7 world leader. *Viral tweet defined as attracting at least 500 likes on the subject of ‘COVID-19’ or ‘coronavirus’. Key: G7 = Group of Seven.
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