COVID-19 Misinformation Through the Lens of Young Black and Latinx Michiganders: A Qualitative Study

Black and Latinx populations have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. While young adults are at lower risk of severe outcomes, they are key to improving the impact of COVID-19 communication in communities of color.

To understand young Michiganders' perspectives on misinformation and communication regarding COVID-19.

In 2021, as part of a larger study, four focus groups were conducted with Black and Latinx residents (18 to 29 years old) in Wayne County (including Detroit), Genesee County (including Flint), Washtenaw County, and Kent County, MI. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted 90-min, virtual focus groups. Key themes were identified using inductive coding.

Six themes emerged from the young adults: (1) reasons for disproportionate impact; (2) social media algorithms propagating misinformation; (3) education helping young adults identify misinformation; (4) "bribery" and incentivizing viewed critically; (5) wide friend networks and diverse messaging providing broader perspectives, but frequent relocation may hamper community connections; and (6) assisting older generations viewed as a responsibility despite not always feeling trusted by their elders.

Participants had a healthy skepticism of COVID-19 information and a sense of responsibility to help their communities. Future work should explore the degree to which young adults may be impacted by misinformation despite their vigilance and how they might contribute to improved health communication.