Abstract
The goal of this thesis is to explore the various forms of rhetoric utilized in digital communities pertaining to COVID-19. The body of this thesis synthesizes social media data with original human subjects research, supplemented by a review of the literature surrounding digital communication. The analysis of these freestanding communities highlights the differences in communication throughout these spaces, as well as discusses their differences in reaction to disordered information. Through rhetorical analysis of the language employed by COVID-19 denialist communities on Twitter and a review of the experiences of COVID-19 “long-haulers” in COVID-19 related online communities (such as Facebook and Reddit), this project offers novel insights into COVID-19 communication and the spread of misinformation.
Thesis Completion
2021
Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Singer, Sarah
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
College
College of Arts and Humanities
Department
English
Degree Program
Technical Communication
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
12-1-2021
Recommended Citation
Stephens, Mia M., "The "Information Pandemic": Technical Communication and False Information on Social Media in the Age of COVID-19" (2021). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 1080.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/1080