Covid-19 related news should be followed from reliable sources

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology Academic Staff Assoc. Prof. Dr. Füsun Gökkaya stated that the speed of the spread of information in relation to the Covid-19 outbreak has progressed unlike other epidemics in history, and that due to today's mass media, news relating to the cases, deaths, and quarantine processes of each country are being conveyed rapidly and intensely.

Clinical Psychologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökkaya also stated that due to news related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the panic experienced in people has led to abnormal behavior and went on to advise, "People's psychological and behavioral dimensions are also affected as well as their biological and sociological dimensions."

Drawing attention to the negative effects on people caused by pandemic related traumatic events, Gökkaya added, “it has caused abnormal behavio in people such as extreme phobic reactions, depression, panic, paranoid moods, selfishness, aggression, marginalization and stigmatization”.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökkaya emphasized that many negative, exaggerated and / or false news in relation to COVID-19 have been broadcasted on television, social media, and radio, and stated that it is important for individuals to distance themselves from such news.

Constantly following news in relation to the pandemic can lead to an increase in fear and anxiety.

Stating that constantly following the news in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic also leads to an increase in fear and anxiety, Gökkaya went on to state, "We should only trust and follow pandemic related information provided by the authorized persons".

Clinical Psychologist Gökkaya emphasized that news that does not come from reliable sources should not be trusted and underlined that such news with questionable reliability should not be shared on social media. Pointing out that information pollution can be prevented by refraining from sharing news that has not received approval from the authorities, Gökkaya concluded, “in doing so, the individual will also be protecting their social environment”.