Examining the Impact of Academic Degree Level on Misinformation Levels Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico: A Social Media Perspective

The dissemination of misinformation on social media during the pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s perception, leading to misconception in terms of healthcare actions and treatments. This study is aimed to investigate the relationship between academic degrees and the level of misinformation on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. A scientifically validated survey was used to evaluate data from N = 101 volunteer participants on aspects such as monthly income, academic degree, internet, and social media usage habits, as well as true and false questions about COVID-19 facts. The results revealed a relationship between academic degree level and the belief in false news related to the pandemic; where 75% of the doctoral level population identified fake news in contrast to those at the primary and secondary levels, which obtained 37.5% and 39.58% respectively. Ultimately, this study could provide insights about how the Mexican population learn on social media and how strategies can be implemented to foster a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more importantly in future ones.