Factors Affecting Students’ Fake News Identification during COVID-19 in Vietnam: Access from Sociological Study and Application of PLS-SEM Model

Abstract

This study investigates the ability of Vietnamese students to identify fake news in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors that affect their performance in this regard. Data were collected from 1161 students at two universities in Vietnam between January and June 2022 using in-depth face-to-face interviews and an online questionnaire survey. Results show that while a majority of students are aware of the importance of verifying information, comparing sources, and identifying news factors, only 32.2% of students can identify fake news. Factors such as interest in fake news, channels of receiving fake news, awareness, attitudes, and behaviors towards fake news play a critical role in students’ ability to recognize fake news. Additionally, the study found that the features of fake news strongly and significantly correlate with the identification of fake news. These findings highlight the need for media literacy education and critical thinking training programs among Vietnamese students to help them navigate the complex information landscape and identify fake news in the face of future pandemics or other events.