JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

“The Impact of Social Media on Hyped Panic during

the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Iraqi Kurdistan Case'”

Araz Ramazan Ahmad, Hersh Rasool Murad, Marilyn R Gardner

Submitted to: JMIR Mental Health

on: April 22, 2020

Disclaimer: © The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community
review. Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for
review purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a CC BY license on publication, at this
stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Table of Contents

Original Manuscript....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Supplementary Files..................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Other materials for editor/reviewers onlies ....................................................................................................................................... 25

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

“The Impact of Social Media on Hyped Panic during the COVID-19

Pandemic: The Iraqi Kurdistan Case'”

Araz Ramazan Ahmad, Hersh Rasool Murad, Marilyn R Gardner

Corresponding Author:
Araz Ramazan Ahmad
Phone: +9647701573122
Email: araz.ahmad85@uor.edu.krd

Abstract

Background: In the recent three months of 2020, a lot of information and news reports about the COVID-19 has been published
and shared on social media and social networking sites. and it is being called the first true social-media ’infodemic’”.
Therefore, the few published scientific resources in the social media ‘infodemic’ spreads panic and affect the mental health of
followers of social media users.
Objective: This study aimed to find out the effects of social media on spreading panic of COVID-19, and its impact on mental
health in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Methods: To carry out this study, an online questionnaire was prepared to conduct in Iraqi Kurdistan, and total number of 516
social media users were sampled. The present study deployed a content analysis method for the data analysis. Correspondingly,
the data was analysed through SPSS version 25 and presented in tabulation and figures.
Results: The study determined that social media has a significant impact spreading fears and panic of the COVID-19 outbreaks
in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Along with this, it has a negative influence on people’s mental health and psychological wellbeing.
According to the study results, Facebook is the top used social media responsible for spreading panic of the COVID-19 outbreak
in Iraq. Most of the participants in the study believe that social media had a significant psychological impact on them during this
COVID-19 outbreak.
Conclusions: Social media has various effects on mental health. This study concluded that social media was responsible for
spreading panic of COVID-19 among people in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is found that, there is a significant positive statistical
correlation between Social media and spreading panic of COVID-19, which is (0.8701) and that the significance value. Youths
are facing psychological problems as per the results indicated in this results majority of the youths under the age of 18-35 are
facing psychological anxiety. However, as in the lockdown situation, people are using social media platforms to gain information
about the COVID-19. The nature of the impacts of social media panic among people is different depending on the gender, age
and level of education. It can be seen that social media has played a key role in spreading panic of COVID-19 outbreak in Iraqi
Kurdistan Region and other countries.
(JMIR Preprints 22/04/2020:19556)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.19556

Preprint Settings
1) Would you like to publish your submitted manuscript as preprint?
Please make my preprint PDF available to anyone at any time (recommended).
Please make my preprint PDF available only to logged-in users; I understand that my title and abstract will remain visible to all users.
Only make the preprint title and abstract visible.
No, I do not wish to publish my submitted manuscript as a preprint.
2) If accepted for publication in a JMIR journal, would you like the PDF to be visible to the public?
Yes, please make my accepted manuscript PDF available to anyone at any time (Recommended).
Yes, but please make my accepted manuscript PDF available only to logged-in users; I understand that the title and abstract will remain v
Yes, but only make the title and abstract visible (see Important note, above). I understand that if I later pay to participate in <a href="http

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Original Manuscript

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

“The Impact of Social Media on Hyped Panic during

the COVID-19 Pandemic 'The Iraqi Kurdistan Case'”
Araz Ramazan Ahmad1-2 MA, PhD; Hersh Rasool Murad3 MA, PhD, Asst. Prof.; Marilyn R.
Gardner, 4 R.N., BSc.
1
Department of Administration, College of Humanities, University of Raparin, Ranya, Iraq
2
International relations & Diplomacy, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, Tishk
International University, Erbil, Iraq
3
Department of Public Relations & Marketing, Technical college of Administration, Sulaimani
Polytechnic University, Sulaimani , Iraq
4
Director of Clinical Community Linkages, Center for Health Impact, Worcester, Massachusetts
Abstract

Background: In the recent three months of 2020, a lot of information and news reports
about the COVID-19 has been published and shared on social media and social networking
sites. and it is being called the first true social-media ’infodemic’”. Therefore, the few published
scientific resources in the social media ‘infodemic’ spreads panic and affect the mental health of
followers of social media users.
Objective: This study aimed to find out the effects of social media on spreading panic of
COVID-19, and its impact on mental health in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Methods: To carry out this study, an online questionnaire was prepared to conduct in Iraqi
Kurdistan, and total number of 516 social media users were sampled. The present study
deployed a content analysis method for the data analysis. Correspondingly, the data was
analysed through SPSS version 25 and presented in tabulation and figures.
Results: The study determined that social media has a significant impact spreading fears and
panic of the COVID-19 outbreaks in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Along with this, it has a negative
influence on people’s mental health and psychological wellbeing. According to the study
results, Facebook is the top used social media responsible for spreading panic of the COVID-19
outbreak in Iraq. Most of the participants in the study believe that social media had a significant
psychological impact on them during this COVID-19 outbreak.
Conclusions: Social media has various effects on mental health. This study concluded that
social media was responsible for spreading panic of COVID-19 among people in Iraqi Kurdistan.
It is found that, there is a significant positive statistical correlation between Social media and
spreading panic of COVID-19, which is (0.8701) and that the significance value. Youths are
facing psychological problems as per the results indicated in this results majority of the youths
under the age of 18-35 are facing psychological anxiety. However, as in the lockdown situation,
people are using social media platforms to gain information about the COVID-19. The nature of
the impacts of social media panic among people is different depending on the gender, age and
level of education. It can be seen that social media has played a key role in spreading panic of
COVID-19 outbreak in Iraqi Kurdistan Region and other countries.

Keywords: Social Media; Covid-19; Infomedic; Panic; Mental Health; Fake News;
Misinformation; Impact; Kurdistan Region; Iraq
____________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

coronavirus. [1] Cases of COVID-19 first emerged in late December, 2019, when a mysterious
illness was reported in Wuhan, China. The cause of the disease was soon confirmed as a new
kind of coronavirus, and the infection has since spread too many countries around the world
and become a pandemic disease [2]. Several web links have published information about the
COVID19 and have given different instructions to their users about ways to prevent the virus
such as distance between themselves and others, using masks, washing their hands [33].
However, during these COVID19 outbreak social media has become a source of disseminating
to the public, which is why telemedicine has the potential to solve many issues in this situation,
As seen from early data from China, many individuals will experience isolation during
hospitalization or when quarantining at home [34]. Where it is providing the efficient source of
information and effective means for staying abreast of the vast amount of medical knowledge
required to deliver to patients [35].
COVID-19 Cases in Iraqi Kurdistan
Formerly, people generally rely on social media to gain information and news, so since the
outbreak of the COVID-19 in December 2019, people in many countries have relied on social
media to obtain information about the virus. Also, people in Iraqi Kurdistan depend on social
media. Internet usage is strongly associated with behaviors related to health information, users
write discussions about their health through various social media platforms [36].As Kemp
[3]explains, there were 29.82 million internet users and 21 million social media users in
January 2020 in Iraq. Therefore, Internet data, including data from social media platforms such
as Twitter, have been used extensively in recent years to study health patterns and better
understand infectious disease outbreaks [37].
The global spread of the COVID-19, is a rapidly evolving situation. The Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) created a particular webpage [4] to spread information about the COVID-19
cases in Kurdistan, which is regularly updated by the Ministry of Health (MOH). According to
the KRG statements, only the Ministry of Health or the World Health Organization is qualified to
confirm any case of COVID-19 in Iraqi Kurdistan. Nevertheless, most people rely on social
media and look for their information on social media platforms instead of official KRG’s
webpage.
According to the ministry of health’s statements in KRG, till April 10, 2020, the total confirmed
cases are 324, and 3 deaths with 134 recovered cases and187 actives cases [5]. The main
argument of the study is to see the relationship between using social media platforms during
this COVID-19 outbreak.
Literature Review
A literature review on this topic is difficult primarily because the world has never encountered
a pandemic in the age of social medial. Previous researches revealed on the Internet for data on
diseases, especially global epidemics such as COVID 19, also, there few factors for using social
media the most effective factors included the search frequency of hand washing, hand sanitizer,
and antiseptic topics [38]. Hao and Basu [6] claim that the coronavirus is the first true social
media infodemic because it has fastened information and misinformation around the world
and is fueling panic and fear among people as well. It also endorsed by the social network
platforms, where users can express their emotions, feelings, and thoughts, are a valuable
source of data for researching mental health [39].
Even journalists around the world are relying on pictures and videos posted on social media in
China to find out more about the real situation in China after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Similarly, Salt [7] added to this discussion that a lot of information on COVID-19 can cause
people to feel depressed and to reduce depression, some recommendations include reducing
and limiting time spent on social media. Muwahed [8] found that in the age of social media the

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

new information on the coronavirus spreads faster than the virus itself resulting in public panic
around the world. However, Social media is a practicable platform for the spreading of public
health messages to audiences [40]. Another scholar [9] illustrated that explains, that social
media has now become a source of information and news related to the COVID-19. The
International Health Organization points out that they are currently not only fighting against an
international epidemic, but also against the infodemic on social media as well.
Brewer [10] declares gaining lots of information and news on COVID-19 has affected public and
created panic, causing people to live with anxiety. Similarly, Rothschild and Fischer [11] claim
that social media is the cause of fear and panic spreading today among users. Correspondingly,
the discussion on social media, Cellan-Jones [12] stated that people depend on social media to
gain information and new facts on COVID-19, as most of the countries use filters which is why
social media gives some information, but not all the facts.
After the COVID-19 appeared and transmitted to other countries outside of Mainland China,
people turned to social media to know more about the virus and facts. According to Molla [13],
in just 24 hours 19 million mentions across social media and news sites related to COVID-19
had been recorded around the world has been recorded.
The mass media must also take responsibility for providing correct information and creating
comprehension among citizens [41]. Sheera, Davey, and Raymond [14] investigated that after
WHO claimed that social media companies were fueling misinformation on COVID-19 around
the world, some social media companies tried to remove false information on their platforms.
Daniel [15] claims in today’s digital age, China’s citizens could not get enough facts about
COVID-19, which is why they depended on social media and widely shared their information,
photos and videos, sometimes inaccurately. Likewise, in India the state has asked top social
media companies like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, ShareChat, and Twitter, to stop publishing
misinformation as it creates panic among people. Similarly, Robin [16] depicted that, according
to the European Union document Russian media has published a “significant disinformation
campaign” against the West to degenerate the effect of the COVID-19, and to make panic among
the public in the western public sphere.
In the contemporary discussion on media effects, a scholar [17] added that, in some countries,
under social media’s impact people made the buying crisis which is most of the people tried to
get toilet paper and other things because of spreading COVID-19 fear on social media. “This is
our first social media pandemic,” says Carl Bergstrom, a professor of biology at the University
of Washington who researches disinformation. “This is the first time we’ve had a pandemic
where the population is relying heavily on social media for information.” According to the star
[18], it’s clear that social media is responsible for much of the panic of COVID-19,
internationally leading to a situation where social media companies tried to eradicate posts on
COVID-19 on social media platforms. Furthermore, Hannah [19] clarifies that people have seen
posts of empty shops on social media which created panic related to food shortages among
people. Also, Spence [20]ays that social media gave the chance of sharing information to all,
which is why as soon as someone heard something about COVID-19, they posted it on social
media. In addition, Andy [21] identifies that publishing inaccurate information on social media
networks about the spread of diseases will have a negative impact on public health and
people’s mental health. The public sphere in the 21st century has undergone a transformation
generated by the adoption of online communication technologies. New media has become an
important source of health information and a platform for discussing personal experiences,
opinions and concerns regarding health, illnesses and treatment [21]. Similarly, Conor [22]
thinks people spent a lot of time on social media and they see cases like panic -buying in
countries during COVID-19 outbreaks, which is why social media can spread panic. Also, Noor
[23] shows that nowadays everyone is an expert because everyone tries to have a voice and

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

send a message about COVID-19. Correspondingly, Olivia [24] explains that we gave power to
social media to create fear of COVID-19 as we all publish panic and it circulates across people’s
life.
Merchant, and Lurie [25] examined that at present, due to the development of social media,
many methods of communicating and disseminating information and news are available to the
public. These are very fast and effective and can spread not only good information, but
misinformation as well. In addition, Pham, et al, [26] exemplified that many countries did not
circulate information to the public about the COVID-19 outbreak, or were unable to provide the
public with the information they needed, thus people relied on the information they could find
on social media. The Vietnamese case is the most successful example of dealing with social
media in the right way. The country's Ministry of Health has created an account on social media
networks and through those accounts, they published information about COVID-19 to the
public.
Mian and Khan [27] clarify that recently there has been a worldwide increase in the spread of
fake news and misinformation about COVID-19, mainly on social media, which has a negative
impact on people’s psychological side. Correspondingly, Petric & others [28, 42] believe that
“media coverage has highlighted COVID- 19 as a unique threat, rather than one of many, which
has added to panic, stress”. Depoux, et al., [29, 30, 31, 32] determine that social media has
played three main roles with the COVID-19 outbreaks in most of the countries, firstly, social
media published fact about the outbreak, secondly, it has published misinformation, fake news
and inaccurate information about the outbreak, and finally, it has formed and published fear
and panic of the outbreak in the world.

Methods
The study opted for the quantitative methodology to obtain data from social media users. The
questionnaire was prepared in the Kurdish Language, and around 516 social media users were
sampled to collect the data. A descriptive content analysis was used to analyses the data, where
the SPSS V25 was used to categories and test the results. The social media users participated in
a random online questionnaire, which aims to find out the impact of social media on spreading
panic of COVID-19 outbreak and its impact of people’s mental health as well as the health crisis
facing societies in countries around the world

Results and discussion

Table (1) Status of socio-demographic variables
Gender Frequency Percent
The gender classification
Male 294 57%
Female 222 43%
Total 516 100
The age classification
Age Frequency Percent
From 18 to 35 years old 336 65.1%
From 36 to 50 years old
149 28.9%
More than 51 years old
31 6%

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Total 516 100

The scientific qualification classification
Scientific qualification Frequency Percent
Ph.D. 43 8.3%
M.A. 85 16.5%
Higher Diploma 3 0.6%
Bachelor 261 50.6%
Diploma 65 12.6%
High School 35 6.8%
Secondary school 11 2.1%
Primary School 7 1.4%
Just reading and writing 6 1.2%
Total 516 100
Table (1) indicates that 57% of participants of this study are male, while females are only 43%.
In addition, Consistent with the results from Table (2) most of the participants are from 18 to
35 years age range, which are the majority of participants at this age. Those who were elder
than 51 years old made up only 6% of the participants. In other words, Characteristics of the
study sample according to the scientific qualification: was divided into nine types. The highest
percentage of the scientific qualification was Bachelor as 50.6%, while the Higher Diploma was
0.6% which was the lowest rate among other types.

Table (2): The social media platforms

Frequen
Social media platforms
cy Percent
Facebook
426 82.6%
Instagram
33 6.4%
Twitter
17 3.3%
Snapchat
2 0.4%
YouTube
10 1.9%
TikTok
1 0.2%
LinkedIn
6 1.2%
WhatsApp
3 0.6%
Telegram
4 0.8%
Skype
1 0.2%
Viber
9 1.7%
LINE
2 0.4%

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

WeChat
1 0.2%
VKontakte (VK)
0 0.0%
Badoo
0 0.0%
Myspace
1 0.2%
Total 516 100.0
The first main question which is addressed in this study is about as: which social media
platform do you use to get news and information about the COVID-19? According to the results of
the following table, out of 516 participants, 426 an (82.6%) use Facebook to acquire
information of COVID-19, Then the users of (TikTok, Skype, WeChat, Myspace) come at the end.
Their main reason behind why Facebook is at the top because its the most popular Social media
platform used in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Table (3): The news topics classification

News topics Frequency Percent
Social news 14 2.7%
Health news (COVID-19) 394 76.4%
Technology news 3 0.6%
Economic news 10 1.9%
Sport news 4 0.8%
Miscellaneous news 65 12.6%
Political news 20 3.9%
Cultural news 6 1.2%
Total 516 100.0

The second question was: What issues of news have you mostly heard/seen/read on social
media during these three months of 2020? As stated by the following table, 76.4% of the
participants followed health news (COVID-19), while the lowest number followed technology
news. The results of the 516 participants show that the health crisis is affecting the type of
news topics most commonly followed in social media during this COVID-19 outbreak.

Table (4): Reliability and Validity

Methods Result

Alpha Cronbach 0.825

Validity 0.753

It can be seen that in table (4) alpha Cronbach was used to get the result of the reliability of the
study. As a result, the value of alpha Cronbach equals to (0.825) and the validity was (0.753),

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

then the result of alpha Cronbach and validity shows that the value of the questionnaire is
highly reliable in this study. Reliability means accuracy, dependability, stability, and consistency
of the research instrument. According to Plano and Creswell, (2015), the recommended
appropriate sample size is “approximately 200 individuals (or more) for a research” which
implies that a sample size of 200 respondents is appropriate sample size for the current
research.
3. Description of variables

Table (5): Description of variables

Relative
Variables Mean S.D C.V importanc
e
Do you think that publishing more news related
to the COVID-19, on social media has spread fear 2.68 0.63 23.51 89.333
and panic among the people?
Do you think the level of Kurdish pages, groups
and accounts on social media in the coverage of 1.96 0.88 44.9 65.333
the COVID-19, is it good?
Have you published any information and news
2.18 0.93 42.66 72.667
related to the COVID-19on social media?
Filters need to be set up for social media and a
specific policy followed during humanitarian 2.74 0.62 22.63 91.333
crises such as the spread of the COVID-19.

Total 2.39 0.765 33.425 79.667

Table (5) of the data on repeat distributions (percentages, mean, standard deviations and
coefficient of variation) indicates the explanatory variables that focus on (Question 3-5-6-8).
This variable has a mean of 2.39, and a standard deviation of (0.765) also the Relative
importance of (79.667). the percentage of people who responded with "Yes" to (63.18%), who
were to a certain extent by (12.94%), while the proportion of individuals who did not agree
(NOT) with the paragraphs have reached (23.89%).

Table (6): Fear impacts

Impact scale Frequenc Percent

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

y
Psychological 199 38.5%
Physical 9 1.74%
Physical Psyche 47 9.11%
All of them 75 14.58%
I was not afraid 186 36.0%
Total 516 100.0

In Table 6, If the answer to your sixth question is (yes), how did that fear affect you? Along with
the result from the following table, 38.57% of the participants were psychologically affected,
while 36% stated they were not afraid. And minority of them as 1.74% claimed that they were
physically affected. The result of the 516 participants shows that fear was a primary
psychological response and can cause a reduction of physical immunity, one of the reasons for
poor outcomes from being infected with COVID-19.

Table (7): Kinds of information

Frequenc
Information
y Percent
Dissemination the number of infections (A) 90 17.4%
Dissemination the number of death tolls (B) 39 7.6%
Disseminating fear information about COVID- 56 10.9%
19(C)
Publishing photos and videos of the cities and 78 15.1%
countries with high infection cases (D)
Fake news about COVID-19(E) 137 26.6%
Dissemination the number of infections - 13 2.5%
Dissemination the number of death tolls
Dissemination the number of infections (A)- 4 0.8%
Disseminating fear information about COVID-
19
Dissemination the number of infections (A)- 9 1.7%
Publishing photos and videos of the cities and
countries with high infection cases (D)
Dissemination the number of infections (A)- 7 1.4%
Fake news about COVID-19(E)
Dissemination the number of death tolls (B)- 3 0.6%
Disseminating fear information about COVID-
19 C
With others 80 15.9%

Total 516 100.0

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Another question in the study is: which category of information has had the most impact on
creating panic on social media?; The majority of response - 137 out of 516 total participants
(26.6%) said: fake news about COVID-19, and 90 participants (17.4%) said: dissemination of
the number of infections, and 39 participants (7.6%) said: dissemination of the number of
deaths. This indicates that fake news and misinformation will have an immediate and massive
impact on individuals during the span of this crisis.

Table (7): Some questions according to gender response

Gender
Total
male female
Variables
N N N
% % %
25 22  47
No
53.19% 46.81% 100%
Q3-Do you think that publishing more news related 36 34  70
to the COVID-19, on social media has spread fear neutral
and panic among the people? 51.43% 48.57%  100%
233 166  399
Yes
 58.4%  41.6%  100%
144 67 211
No
68.25% 31.75% 100%
Q5-Do you think the level of Kurdish pages, groups  49  64  113
and accounts on social media in the coverage of the neutral
COVID-19, is it good?  43.36%  56.34% 100%
 101  91  192
Yes
 52.6%  47.4% 100%
133 73 186
No
71.51% 28.49% 36%
Q6-Have you published any information and news 30 20 50
neutral
related to the COVID-19on social media?  60%  40%  100%
 151  129  280
Yes
 53.93%  46.07%  100%
37 12 49
No
75.51% 24.49% 100%
Q8-Filters need to be set up for social media and a 22 12 34
specific policy followed during humanitarian crises neutral
such as the spread of the COVID-19. 64.71% 35.29% 100%
235 198 433
Yes
 52.28%  45.73% 100%

It is obvious from Q(3),Q(6) and Q(8), rate of males were more than females at three responses
(Yes,Netural and N0) where as the question(5) the rate of females were more than males at
response of (netural).

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Table (9): accounting some questions according to gender

Gender
Total
Male Female
Variable
N N N
% % %
 251 175 426
Facebook
 58.92%  41.08% 100% 
 7 26 33
Instagram
 21.21%  78.79%  100%
 10 7 17
Twitter
 58.82%  41.18% 100%
 0 2 2
Snapchat
0.0%   100% 100%
 6 4 10
YouTube
 60%  40% 100%
 0 1 1
TikTok
 0.0%  100% 100%
Which social media  3 3 6
platform do you use LinkedIn
50%  50%  100%
to get news and
 3 0 3
information about WhatsApp
the COVID-19  100%  0.0% 100%
 3 1 4
Telegram
 75%  25% 100%
 1 0 1
Skype
 100%  0.0% 100%
 7 2 9
Viber
 77.78%  22.22% 100%
 1 1 2
LINE
50%  50%  100%
 1 0 1
WeChat
 100% 0.0%  100%
 1 0 1
Myspace
 100%  0.0% 100%
Social news  12 2 14
 85.71%  14.29% 100%
Health news (COVID-19)  216 178 394
What issues of news  54.82%  45.18% 100%
have you mostly
Technology news  2 1 3
heard/seen/read on
 66.67%  33.33% 100%
social media during
these three months of Economic news  6 4 10
2020?  60% 40%  100%
Sport news  3 1 4
 75%  25% 100%

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

 34 31 65
Miscellaneous news
 52.31%  47.69% 100%
Political news  17 3 20
   85% 15%  100%
 4 2 6
Cultural news
 66.67%  33.33% 100%

It is inevitable that, 58.92% of males used Facebook and only 41.08% of females used it. Most
of particpants,78.79% of females have used Instagram while the rate of males usage of
Instagram was 21.21%. The rate of males who read economic news were 60% and females
were 40%, most of participants,70% of males were read sport news while 25% of females
were read sport news.

Table (10): accounting some questions according age

Ages
Total
Variables 18-35 36-50 51years<
% %  % %
 283 124 19 426
Facebook
 66.43%  29.11%  4.46% 100% 
 28 5 0 33
Instagram
 84.85%  15.15%  0.0% 100%
 10 7 0 17
Twitter
 58.82%  41.18%  0.0%  100%
 2 0 0 2
Snapchat
 100% 0.0%   0.0%  100%
 4 4 2 10
YouTube
What issues of  40%  40%  20%  100%
news have you  1 0 0 1
TikTok
mostly  100%  0.0%  0.0% 100%
heard/seen/read  3 2 1 6
LinkedIn
on social media  50% 33.33%   16.67%  100%
during these three  1 0 2 3
months of 2020? WhatsApp
 33.33%  0.0%  66.67%  100%
 1 1 2 4
Telegram
 25%  25%  50% 100%
 0 1 0 1
Skype
 0.0%  100%  0.0%  100%
 2 3 4 9
Viber
 22.22%  33.34%  44.44%  100%
 0 1 1 2
LINE
0.0% 50% 50% 100%
 0 1 0 1
WeChat
0.0%   100%  0.0% 100%

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

 1 0 0 1
Myspace
 100%  0.0%  0.0%  100%
Social news  9 3 2 14
 64.29% 21.42%   14.29%  100%
Health news (COVID-19)  266 112 16 394
 67.51%  28.43%  4.06%  100%
Technology news  3 0 0 3
 100%  0.0%  0.0%  100%
Which social Economic news  4 6 0 10
media platform do
 40%  60% 0.0%   100%
you use to get
news and Sport news  2 2 0 4
information about  50%  50%  0.0%  100%
the COVID-19  41 17 7 65
Miscellaneous news
 63.08%  26.15%  10.77%  100%
 8 6 6 20
Political news
 40% 30%   30% 100%
 
 3 3 0 6
Cultural news
 50%  50%  0.0%  100%

It can be seen that, 66.43% of participants (18 to35 years old) they have used Facebook and
only 29.11% and 4.46 of (36 to 50 years old ) and (51years< years old ) by respectively used it.
Most of the particpants , 84.85% of (18 to35 years old) they have used Instagram while the
rate of (36 to 50 years old ) they have used Instagram which was 15.15%. Besides, 40% of (18
to35 years old) were read Economic news and (36 to 50 years old ) were read 60%, most
participants.

Table (11): Variables description regarding age and gender

Variable
Psycholog All of I was
Psycholog Physic Total
ical - them not
Classes ical al
Physical afraid

% %  % % % %
111 5 24 42 112% 294
Male
37.76% 1.7% 8.16% 14.29% 38.09% 100%
88 4 23 33 74 222
Gender Female
39.64% 1.8% 10.36% 14.86% 33.33% 100%
Number 199 9 47 75 186 516
% 38.67% 1.74% 9.11% 14.58% 36% 100%
135 6 36 43 116 336
18-35
40.18% 1.79% 10.71% 12.8% 34.52% 100%
Age 57 2 9 23 58 149
36-50
38.26% 1.34% 6.04% 15.44% 38.93% 100%
51years< 7 1 2 9 12 31

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

22.57% 3.23% 6.46% 29.03% 38.71% 100%

Number 199 9 47 75 186 516
% 38.67% 1.74% 9.11% 14.58% 36% 100%

From table (10) , 37.76% of males have feel Psychological and only 39.64% of females have feel
it. Most of the respondents, 40.18% of (18 to 35 yeasr old) have feel in Psychological while the
rate of (36 to 50 yeasr old) have feel in Psychological which was 38.26%.
Table (11): Simple regression Model analysis of a dependent variable
(spreading panic of COVID-19)
Effects of social media on spreading panic of COVID-19,and and its
impact on mental health in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Unstandardized
Coefficients R2
Model T Test Sig. R F Test Sig.
Std.
B
Error
Constant 0.4456 0.219 4.865 0.001 0.757
0.8701 95.652 0.000
social media 0.6458 0.0588 11.532 0.000

Null hypothesis -Ho: There is not a relationship between social media and spreading panic of
COVID-19
Second hypothesis -H1: There is a relationship between social media and spreading panic of
COVID-19
Null hypothesis - Ho; there isn’t an Effects of social media on spreading panic of COVID-19
Second hypothesis- H1; there are an Effects of social media on spreading panic of COVID-19
It is noted from Table (11) that there is a significant positive statistical correlation between
(social media and spreading panic of COVID-19) which is (0.8701) and that the significance
value is 0.000 and is less than 0.05. This indicates acceptance of the second hypothesis, a
positive correlation between the extent of (social media and spreading panic of COVID-19). The
above model shows the value of the expected variables (spreading panic of COVID-19) is
significant for the value of (p-value) of (0.000) and this means that it is less than the significant
level of 0.05, which means that it is statistical significance and accept the alternative
hypothesis. The value of the independent variable factor (social media) is 0.6458, while the
value of the coefficient of determination is (0.757) and the total variation is equal to (75.7%)
and the other variables (24.3%) are due to random error.
Finallt , R Square for this study is (0.757). This indicates that 75.7% of the variance of
(spreading panic of COVID-19) has been explored in (social media). In other words, this
illustrates that only 75.7% of factors affect (spreading panic of COVID-19) in (social media).

Discussion:

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

As media professionals working at a public university in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, it is

obvious from the present study results, that media has played a massive role in affecting the
public during the COVID-19 crisis. It is predicted in the regression analysis of the study stated
that, there is a significant positive statistical correlation between (social media and spreading
panic of COVID-19) which is (0.8701) and that the significance in value. Scholars found that
[34] during these COVID19 outbreak social media has become a source of disseminating to the
public for updates and information about the virus. Moreover, we can see that it has had a
psychological effect, primarily on the younger generation, which was predicted from the results
40.1% of the respondents under the age of 18-35 years old are affected. A similar study
conducted in China, which stated that, Fake news has led to xenophobia towards patients [41].
People are gathering information from governmental sources that have eroded and people are
far more likely to get their information from social media than from any other sources. People
are also unable to discern what information on social media is true and what is false, thus
causing more panic and rumors as to the true nature of the epidemic.
One could argue that the panic caused by widespread information in the Kurdistan Region of
Iraq is worse than the number of COVID-19 cases and will have a longer-lasting effect. It is
important to communicate this to health professionals in the region and for media experts to
work with these professionals to ensure that only well-vetted information is disseminated to
the public. It is also important to engage the Ministries of Health and the Ministries of
Education in this effort to be prepared for future epidemics or health problems. This pandemic
has certainly helped the authors to identify the need for educating consumers on health topics
found through social media.

Conclusions:
This study concluded that social media was responsible for spreading panic of COVID-19
among people in Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, during this health crisis of the COVID-19
outbreak, trust among citizens and the state has eroded, which is why the official statements,
news and information provided by health ministries and government bodies cannot satisfy
people’s needs. Civilians, therefore, rely heavily on social media platforms to gain information
about the virus. The nature of the impacts of social media panic among people is different
depending on the gender, age, and level of education. It can be seen that social media has

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

played a key role in spreading panic of COVID-19 outbreak in Iraq and other countries.
As media experts and educators, we believe we have an important role to play both now and in
the future of Kurdistan. We must work to educate media consumers on what constitutes good
and reliable information and how to critically think through this information. Since younger
people are also consuming much information and then spreading it to their family and friends,
a university is an ideal place to design courses and symposiums that can help students and
faculty discern how to search for, find, and evaluate health information in the case of an
epidemic or pandemic.
Finallt , R Square for this study is (0.757). This indicates that 75.7% of the variance of
(spreading panic of COVID-19) has been explored in (social media). In other words, this
illustrates that only 75.7% of factors affect (spreading panic of COVID-19) in (social media).

Limitation of the study

Research limitations are various yet the ones that affect the research process are the crucial
ones. There was a lack of literature on social media and COVID-19, thus this study depends on
novel researches which is available but very limited. Besides, conducting this research which
needs data, therefore due to the lockdown period it was another constrain to gather data.
Because for data collection we had a hard time finding participants who wish to answer and
participate.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research,
authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed no funding was provided for conducting this study,

Acknowledgement
With 21st century's pandemic outbreak, the world has suffered from COVID-19, while our
interest lies in the heart of developing knowledge thus the idea of this study was born. Here
authors love to extend our gratitude to everyone who was part of our research community,
their views have highly enriched our study.
Besides, we extend our acknlowdgement to Dr Paiman Ahmad for reviewing this mainscript
prior submission and at the final editing phase.

References:

1. WHO, 2020, Coronavirus. URL:

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_2. {Accessed April 7, 2020}

2. Newscientist, 2020. Covid-19: The disease caused by a kind of coronavirus which first
originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019. URL.
https://www.newscientist.com/term/covid-19/. {Accessed 26 March 2020}

3. Kemp, Simon (2020) DIGITAL 2020: IRAQ.URL:

https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-iraq.{Accessed 18 February 2020}

4. Kurdish Government https://gov.krd/coronavirus-en/)

5. Government of Kurd (2020), COVID-19in Kurdistan Region, URL:

https://gov.krd/coronavirus-en/{Accessed 10 April 2020}

6. Hao, Karen and Basu, Tanya (2020) The coronavirus is the first true social-media
“infodemic”. URL: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615184/the-coronavirus-is-
the-first-true-social-media-infodemic/. {Accessed Feb 12, 2020}

7. Salt, Sharon (2020) COVID-19: the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental
health and what we can all do. URL: https://www.neuro-central.com/covid-19-impact-
coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-can/ {Accessed 23 MAR 2020}

8. Muwahed (2020) Muwahed, Joan (2020) Coronavirus pandemic goes viral in the age of
social media, sparking anxiety. URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/coronavirus-
pandemic-viral-age-social-media-sparking-anxiety/story?id=69580796. {Accessed 14
March 2020}

9. Sokolov, Michael (2020) The pandemic infodemic: how social media helps (and hurts)
during the coronavirus outbreak. URL:
https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2020/03/03/the-pandemic-infodemic-how-social-
media-helps-and-hurts-during-the-coronavirus. {Accessed 03 March 2020}
10.  Brewer, Kirstie (2020) Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health. URL:
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51873799. {Accessed 16 March 2020}.
11. Rothschild, Neal and Sara, Fischer (2020) Coronavirus panic sells as alarmist
information flies on social media. URL: https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-social-
media-b56326b6-ab16-4c8a-bc86-e29b06e5ab2b.html. {Accessed March 3, 2020 }
12. Cellan-Jones, Rory (2020) Tech Tent: Is social media spreading the virus? URL: https://
www.bbc.com/news/technology-51510196. {Accessed 14 February 2020}

13. Molla, Rani (2020) How coronavirus took over social media. URL:
https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/3/12/21175570/coronavirus-covid-19-social-
media-twitter-facebook-google. {Accessed Mar 12, 2020}

14. Frenkel, Sheera, Alba, Davey and Zhong, Raymond (2020) Surge of Virus Misinformation

Stumps Facebook and Twitter. URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/technology/coronavirus-misinformation-
social-media.html. {Accessed March 8, 2020}

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

15. Victor, Daniel (2020) Panic and Criticism Spread on Chinese Social Media Over
Coronavirus. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/24/world/asia/china-social-
media-coronavirus.html. {Accessed Jan. 24, 2020}

16. Emmott , Robin (2020) Russia deploying coronavirus disinformation to sow panic in
West, EU document says. URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-
disinformation/russia-deploying-coronavirus-disinformation-to-sow-panic-in-west-eu-
document-says-idUSKBN21518F. {Accessed MARCH 18, 2020}

17. Hernandez, Sally (2020) Panic spreads fear especially on social media, local doctor says.
URL: https://www.kxan.com/news/stop-hoarding-toilet-paper-says-local-psychologist-
youre-spreading-fear-faster-than-covid-19/{;ast updated Mar 20, 2020}

18. The star (2020) Coronavirus and how social media firms are combating the spread
of misinformation about the disease. URL: https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-
news/2020/03/05/coronavirus-and-how-social-media-firms-are-combating-the-
spread-of-misinformation-about-the-disease {Accessed 05 Mar 2020}

19. Devlin, Hannah (2020) Don't let coronavirus tip society into panic, say psychologists.
URL: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/mar/06/dont-let-coronavirus-tip-
society-into-panic-say-psychologists. {Accessed 6 Mar 2020}

20. Kent, Spence (2020) ‘Fear spreads like a virus’: How coronavirus panic is taking
a toll on N.J.’s mental health. URL: https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/03/fear-
spreads-just-like-a-virus-coronavirus-panic-is-taking-a-toll-on-njs-mental-health.html
{Accessed Mar 08, 2020}

21. Pattison , Andy (2020) INSIDE THE WHO'S FIGHT TO STOP FALSE INFORMATION
ABOUT CORONAVIRUS FROM SPREADING. URL: https://www.wktv.com/content/news/
568519502.html. {Accessed Mar 5, 2020}

22. Dillon, Conor (2020) Coronavirus: The psychology behind panic-buying. URL:
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-the-psychology-behind-panic-buying/a-
52721736. { Accessed 11.03.2020}

23. El-Terk, Noor(2020) Toilet paper, canned food: What explains coronavirus panic buying.
URL: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/toilet-paper-canned-food-explains-
coronavirus-panic-buying-200313083341035.html. { Accessed 13 Mar 2020}

24. Garrett, Olivia (2020) A Case of Modern Mass Hysteria? The Coronavirus. URL:
https://exepose.com/2020/02/13/a-case-of-modern-mass-hysteria-the-coronavirus/.
{Accessed Feb 13, 2020}

25. Merchant, and Lurie (2020) Merchant, R.M. and Lurie, N., 2020. Social Media and
Emergency Preparedness in Response to Novel Coronavirus. JAMA.

26. Pham, et al, 2020 La, V.P., Pham, T.H., Ho, M.T., Hoàng, N.M., Linh, N.P.K., Trang, V.T., Ho,
M.T. and Vuong, Q.H., 2020. Policy response, social media and science journalism for the

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

sustainability of the public health system amid COVID-19outbreak: The Vietnam lessons.

27. Mian and Khan 2020 Mian, A. and Khan, S., 2020. Coronavirus: the spread of
misinformation. BMC medicine, 18(1), pp.1-2.

28. Petric, D.2020, Negative mental health effects of COVID-19pandemic and panic. URL.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?
hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Negative+mental+health+effects+of+COVID-
19+pandemic+and+panic&btnG= {Accessed April 6, 2020}

29. Depoux, A., Martin, S., Karafillakis, E., Bsd, R.P., Wilder-Smith, A. and Larson, H., 2020.
The pandemic of social media panic travels faster than the COVID-19outbreak. Journal of
travel medicine.

30. Ida, R. Saud, M, & Mustain, M (2020). Persistence of Social Media on Political Activism
and Engagement among Indonesian & Pakistani Youths., Journal of web-based
communities, https://doi.org/10.1504/IJWBC.2020.10028448

31. Mahmood, Q. and Saud, M. (2019) Civic Participation and Facebook: A Cross Sectional
Survey of Pakistani University Students. In Proceedings of the 4th International
Conference on Contemporary Social and Political Affairs (ICoCSPA 2018), pages 59-65
ISBN: 978-989-758-393-3 DOI: 10.5220/0008816700590065

32. Habiba, U., Farid, N., & Saud, M. (2018). Social Networking Sites and Deviance among
Youth in Islamabad, Pakistan. European Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 48-58.

33. Hernández-García I, Giménez-Júlvez T. Assessment of Health Information about COVID-

19 Prevention on the Internet: Infodemiological Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill
2020;6(2):e18717. DOI: 10.2196/18717

34. Pappot N, Taarnhøj GA, Pappot H. Telemedicine and e-Health Solutions for COVID-19:
Patients' Perspective. Telemedicine and e-Health 2020. DOI:10.1089/tmj.2020.0099

35. McGowan BS, Wasko M, Vartabedian BS, Miller RS, Freiherr DD, Abdolrasulnia M.
Understanding the Factors That Influence the Adoption and Meaningful Use of Social
Media by Physicians to Share Medical Information. J Med Internet Res 2012;14(5):e117.
DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2138

36. Woo H, Cho Y, Shim E, Lee JK, Lee CG, Kim SH. Estimating Influenza Outbreaks Using
Both Search Engine Query Data and Social Media Data in South Korea. . J Med Internet
Res 2016;18(7):e177. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.4955.

37. Stefanidis A, Vraga E, Lamprianidis G, Radzikowski J, Delamater PL, Jacobsen KH, Pfoser
D, Croitoru A, Crooks A. Zika in Twitter: Temporal Variations of Locations, Actors, and
Concepts. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017;3(2):e22. DOI: 10.2196/publichealth.6925.

38. Chen L, Wang X, Peng TQ. Nature and Diffusion of Gynecologic Cancer–Related
Misinformation on Social Media: Analysis of Tweets. J Med Internet Res
2018;20(10):e11515. DOI: 10.2196/11515

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

39. Wongkoblap A, Vadillo MA, Curcin V. Researching Mental Health Disorders in the Era of
Social Media: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2017;19(6):e228. DOI:
10.2196/jmir.7215

40. Gough A, Hunter RF, Ajao O, Jurek A, McKeown G, Hong J, Barrett E, Ferguson M,
McElwee G, McCarthy M, Kee F. Tweet for Behavior Change: Using Social Media for the
Dissemination of Public Health Messages. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017;3(1):e14.
DOI: 10.2196/publichealth.631

41. Gesser-Edelsburg A, Diamant A, Hijazi R, Mesch GS. Correcting misinformation by health

organizations during measles outbreaks: a controlled experiment. PLoS One
2018;13(12):e0209505

42. Shimizu K. 2019-nCoV, fake news, and racism. Lancet 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):685-686

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Supplementary Files

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

 JMIR Preprints Ahmad et al

Other materials for editor/reviewers onlies

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/19556 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)