A Comparison of COVID-19 Related Internet Search Trends in Germany, USA and Turkey
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, the People’s Republic of China, and soon affected the whole world. Coronavirus, a pandemic disease, has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as COVID-19 on February 11, 2020. Due to its rapid spread, COVID-19 has required countries to take measures regarding health, economic, social and working life. Individuals use internet search engines such as Google to access information about both the measures taken in the country they live in and the disease. The symptoms of COVID-19, the number of cases, and the measures taken were frequently featured in Google searches which made it possible to examine the searches. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the similarities between the precautions taken in countries such as Germany, the United States and Turkey with different levels of success in the fight against the pandemic, information about trending searches and the number of COVID-19 cases. In this qualitatively designed study, document analysis was used for data collection. Information on the measures taken by countries and the number of cases were obtained from the official websites of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), WHO and country ministries, while Google search data was obtained from Google Trends. The study is limited to the dates between 31/12/2019 and 31/10/2020 so that this information can be systematically examined and compared. As a result of the research, the measures taken by the countries were classified, the prominent developments were highlighted. The findings show similarities with the number of cases in the countries examined, the measures they took and popular Google searches in all five periods. As a result of the study, it was revealed that Google Trends data can be used to determine the subjects that individuals need information about, and it was emphasized that arrangements should be made to ensure the dissemination of correct information by closely following the internet and other mass media in pandemic management.
AUTHOR(s)
Hanife Handan ÖZDEMİR
İlkay YEŞİLGÜN
İrem Nilay DURMUŞ
Kübra KARAL
Muhsin TIĞCAR
Nazmiye TÜRK
Pelin Sena ÇELEBİLER
Tuğba Nur KUM
Uğur DUYMAZ
Ümran TUNA
