Exploring the Nature of the Cyberpsychology Concepts that Apply to COVID-19 Misinformation and Barriers to Health Literacy

ABSTRACT: This study examines the critical role of cyberpsychology in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation on social media which is an urgent global health concern with profound public health implications. Despite being a major conduit for misinformation, social media holds the potential to be part of an integrated solution. Traditional countermeasures, such as content moderation and fact-checking, have struggled to address the cognitive biases and emotional factors fueling misinformation’s rapid spread. This research delves into the psychological mechanisms by which individuals process, trust, and share health information in digital spaces by leveraging cyberpsychology, a field that merges psychology, sociology, and computer science insights. This study sheds light on the cognitive, emotional, and social drivers of misinformation. This analysis advances practical, cyberpsychology-based recommendations, developed with contributions from leading experts, to inform future public health strategies. These strategies are not only adaptable but also effective in the increasingly complex digital information landscape, emphasizing the need for such approaches. KEYWORDS: COVID-19 misinformation, Cyberpsychology, Media Psychology, Social Media, Health Misinformation, Digital Health Literacy, Public Health, Health Education, Vaccine hesitancy