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Evidence from internet search data shows information-seeking responses to news of local COVID-19 cases
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Evidence from internet search data shows information-seeking responses to news of local COVID-19 cases

Author

Listed:
  • Ana I. Bento

    (School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

  • Thuy Nguyen

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

  • Coady Wing

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

  • Felipe Lozano-Rojas

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

  • Yong-Yeol Ahn

    (Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47408)

  • Kosali Simon

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405)

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic with community circulation in many countries, including the United States, with confirmed cases in all states. The course of this pandemic will be shaped by how governments enact timely policies and disseminate information and by how the public reacts to policies and information. Here, we examine information-seeking responses to the first COVID-19 case public announcement in a state. Using an event study framework for all US states, we show that such news increases collective attention to the crisis right away. However, the elevated level of attention is short-lived, even though the initial announcements are followed by increasingly strong policy measures. Specifically, searches for “coronavirus” increased by about 36% (95% CI: 27 to 44%) on the day immediately after the first case announcement but decreased back to the baseline level in less than a week or two. We find that people respond to the first report of COVID-19 in their state by immediately seeking information about COVID-19, as measured by searches for coronavirus, coronavirus symptoms, and hand sanitizer. On the other hand, searches for information regarding community-level policies (e.g., quarantine, school closures, testing) or personal health strategies (e.g., masks, grocery delivery, over-the-counter medications) do not appear to be immediately triggered by first reports. These results are representative of the study period being relatively early in the epidemic, and more-elaborate policy responses were not yet part of the public discourse. Further analysis should track evolving patterns of responses to subsequent flows of public information.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana I. Bento & Thuy Nguyen & Coady Wing & Felipe Lozano-Rojas & Yong-Yeol Ahn & Kosali Simon, 2020. "Evidence from internet search data shows information-seeking responses to news of local COVID-19 cases," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(21), pages 11220-11222, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:117:y:2020:p:11220-11222
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pan, Jing Yu & Liu, Dahai, 2022. "Mask-wearing intentions on airplanes during COVID-19 – Application of theory of planned behavior model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 32-44.
    2. Lyócsa, Štefan & Molnár, Peter, 2020. "Stock market oscillations during the corona crash: The role of fear and uncertainty," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    3. Kolotylo-Kulkarni, Malgorzata & Marakas, George M. & Xia, Weidong, 2024. "Understanding protective behavior and vaccination adoption among US individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A four-wave longitudinal study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. Rehse, Dominik & Tremöhlen, Felix, 2022. "Fostering participation in digital contact tracing," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    5. Sandra Aguilar-Gomez & Eva O. Arceo-Gomez & Elia De la Cruz Toledo & Pedro J. Torres López, 2021. "Leadership, public health messaging, and containment of mobility in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic," Documentos de Trabajo 18893, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).
    6. Tobias Saegner & Donatas Austys, 2022. "Forecasting and Surveillance of COVID-19 Spread Using Google Trends: Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, September.
    7. Thuy D. Nguyen & Sumedha Gupta & Martin Andersen & Ana Bento & Kosali I. Simon & Coady Wing, 2020. "Impacts of State Reopening Policy on Human Mobility," NBER Working Papers 27235, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Lyócsa, Štefan & Baumöhl, Eduard & Výrost, Tomáš & Molnár, Peter, 2020. "Fear of the coronavirus and the stock markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    9. Lyócsa, Štefan & Baumöhl, Eduard & Výrost, Tomáš, 2022. "YOLO trading: Riding with the herd during the GameStop episode," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).
    10. Kung, Claryn S.J. & Kunz, Johannes S. & Shields, Michael A., 2023. "COVID-19 lockdowns and changes in loneliness among young people in the U.K," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    11. Nano Prawoto & Eko Priyo Purnomo & Abitassha Az Zahra, 2020. "The Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic on Socio-Economic Mobility in Indonesia," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 57-71.
    12. Tifferet, Sigal, 2021. "Verifying online information: Development and validation of a self-report scale," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    13. Sumedha Gupta & Kosali I. Simon & Coady Wing, 2020. "Mandated and Voluntary Social Distancing During The COVID-19 Epidemic: A Review," NBER Working Papers 28139, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Luca Maria Aiello & Daniele Quercia & Ke Zhou & Marios Constantinides & Sanja Šćepanović & Sagar Joglekar, 2021. "How epidemic psychology works on Twitter: evolution of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Michael Brock & Jacqueline Doremus & Liqing Li, 2020. "Birds of a Feather Lockdown Together: Mutual bird-human benefits during a global pandemic," University of East Anglia School of Economics Working Paper Series 2019-07, School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..

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