Fact-checking about the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Networking Sites: The Moderating Role of Gender

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to explore the factors related to fact-checking about the pandemic and the moderating role of gender on the effects of explored factors. Based on social cognitive theory and social role theory, we established a research model to explore the factors of fact-checking on the pandemic and the role of gender. To validate the research model, data were collected by survey method and analyzed by partial least squares technique. The analysis results present that personal factor (self-efficacy and outcome expectancy) and environmental factors (perceived skepticism and perceived ambiguity) have significant impacts on fact-checking about the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, our results reveal that gender moderates the effects of outcome expectancy, perceived skepticism, and perceived ambiguity on users’ fact-checking. Our study uses social cognitive theory to explore the factors impacting fact-checking, while we combine with social role theory to understand the gender differences in the process of COVID-19 fact-checking in SNSs.