Information networks for COVID-19 according to race/ethnicity

Abstract

This study highlights information networks for COVID-19 according to race/ethnicity by employing social network analysis for Twitter. First, this study finds that racial/ethnic groups are differently dependent on racial/ethnic key players. Whites and Asians show the highest number of racial/ethnic key players, Hispanics have a racial/ethnic key player, and blacks have no racial/ethnic key player in the top 20. Second, racial/ethnic groups show different characteristics of information resources for COVID-19. Whites have the highest key player group in news media, politicians, and researchers, and blacks show the highest key player group in news media. Asians demonstrate the highest key player group in news media, and Hispanics exhibit institutes as the highest key player group. Lastly, there are some differences in group communications across the race/ethnicity. Whites and blacks show open communication systems, whereas Asians and Hispanics reveal closed communication systems. Therefore, governments should understand the characteristics of communications for COVID-19 according to the race/ethnicity.