Evaluating the impact of Twitter as a news source on the Saudi public during the COVID-19

Abstract

In the contemporary era of digital technology, Twitter has emerged as one of the foremost platforms utilised by individuals as a significant online source of information. This is mostly due to its ability to provide access to a wide range of ideas, news, and original content. Twitter predominantly attracts a user base that is primarily interested in news consumption, as the platform offers features such as headline links and media tools that facilitate users' access to content. The aim of the current research is to evaluate the impact of Twitter on the Saudi public as a source of news during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this research, interview method has been taken into account in which the interviews have been conducted with 10 Saudis people aged between 18 years and 60 years. The individuals included in the sample were selected via the Twitter platform, and their agreement to participate was obtained by sending them private messages via the Twitter site. From the findings, it has been found out that the utilisation of Twitter as a news source had a significant impact on the Saudi population during the Covid-19 pandemic. Twitter has been demonstrated to be a very informative platform and an effective news medium for the population of Saudi Arabia amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The majority of individuals in Saudi Arabia possessed Twitter accounts and actively engaged with the platform. During the Covid-19 pandemic, individuals residing in Saudi Arabia were provided with a comprehensive array of updates and information via the social media platform Twitter, encompassing both anticipated and unanticipated content.