Global pandemic, a new initiator of misinformation and conspiracy theories

Još jedno doba neočekivane globalne krize je pred nama, međutim za razliku od prethodnih svjetskih turbulencija poput ratova ili nestašice hrane te sličnih kriza, ovaj se put borimo protiv nevidljivog neprijatelja. Dolazak COVID-19, bolesti koja je zahvatila svijet bila je preagresivna čak i za najrazvijenije zemlje koje nisu bile spremne na opasnost koja je uzela mnogobrojne živote i učinila život na koji smo navikli nezamislivim. Radi ograničene slobode građana uzrokovane preventivnim mjerama, mnogi ljudi traže krivca za kompletan slučaj. Radi društvene odgovornosti uvjetovano smo prisiljeni poštivati mjere propisane od vladajućih tijela, stoga svoje vrijeme najviše provodimo kod kuće. Također, naše slobodno vrijeme sada provodimo sve više pred ekranima i na uređajima gdje imamo pristup internetu. Tamo međutim pronalazimo svakakve odgovore i informacije, većinu njih otvorene za osobnu interpretaciju pojedinca koji ih čita te apsolutnu slobodu da se na temelju tih informacija formiraju nove. Zahvaljujući američkim izborima 2017. godine i pobjedi Donalda Trumpa, započinje veliki trend pomutnje medijske pismenosti u obliku dezinformacija, obmanjujućih informacija koje direktno ili indirektno utječu na pojedinca. Kako je krivac za pandemiju izazvanu novim korona virusom još uvijek nepoznat, brojne dezinformacije stvorile su veliku zbirku osobnih mišljenja iz čega se kao posljedica javljaju mnogobrojne teorije zavjera. Tako se ovaj rad bavi dezinformacijama, lažnim vijestima te nastoji utvrditi koliko znanja i svijesti o teorijama zavjera imaju građani Republike Hrvatske. Koristeći internetsku anketu (CAWI), napravljeno je istraživanje o medijskoj pismenosti i stajalištima ispitanika o teorijama zavjera vezanim za COVID-19.We are faced with yet another era of unexpected global crisis, but unlike previous turbulences that affected the whole world such as wars, food shortages and similar crises, nowadays we are fighting an invisible enemy. The arrival of the COVID-19 gripped the world was so quickly that even for the most developed countries were unprepared for the danger that claimed many lives and made the life we were accustomed to unimaginable. Prevention measures that were introduced set grave limitations on civil liberties and caused many people to look for the culprit for the pandemic. For the sake of social responsibility, we are conditionally forced to follow the measures prescribed by the governing bodies, so we spend most of our time at home now. Also, we are spending a growing amount of our free time in front of our TV and computer screens and using various devices that require us to have an internet access. Because of that, we come across all sorts of answers and informations, most of them open to the personal interpretation of the individual who reads them, and the absolute freedom to form new ideas based on that information. After the 2017 US Presidential election and the victory of Donald Trump, a new trend of confusion has appeared in media literacy in the form of misinformation or misleading information that directly or indirectly affect individuals. As the culprit for the Corona virus is still unknown, numerous misinformation have produced a large number of personal opinions and, as a consequence, the appearance of numerous conspiracy theories. This thesis deals with misinformation, false news and the amount of knowledge and awareness regarding conspiracy theories among the citizens of the Republic of Croatia. Using a web survey tool (CAWI), a survey was conducted on media literacy and respondents’ attitudes regarding conspiracy theories related to COVID-19