91% of Young People in Uzbekistan Trust the Information They Receive About COVID-19

The event was attended by representatives of UN agencies, members of parliament, the Agency of Information and Mass Communications under the President of Uzbekistan, the Youth Union, mass media, bloggers and young U-reporters from various regions of Uzbekistan.

More than 11,400 young people across the country have taken part in the survey, key highlights indicate that:  

• 72% of U-Reporters said that the main source of information about COVID-19 is the Internet (social networks, Internet media, etc.), whereas 24% said television;
• 86% of respondents believed that they receive the information they need about COVID-19, but 10% of respondents disagreed;
• 91% of  respondents mostly trusted the information they receive about coronavirus (49% chose “yes” and 42% considered it “mostly” reliable); 6% did not express  confidence;
• 65% of respondents believed that there is enough information available  about COVID-19. 22% of U-Reporters believed that there is  too much information; 11% of respondents said there isn’t enough information.
• Most U-Reporters (79%) rated the information they received about COVID-19 as “very clear."

During the following Q&A session, the UN team provided recommendations on strengthening the public information campaign, including to:

• Introduce regular information exchange between the UN and state agencies responsible for managing the koronavirus.info telegram channel in order to publish information materials by UN agencies in Uzbek and Russian;
• Continue highlighting the importance of keeping physical distance, frequent handwashing and other sanitary measures both during and after quarantine;
• Continue reaching out with information to the most vulnerable groups, people with no internet access, people living with disabilities and the elderly;
• Consider organizing tailored workshops for local media based on recent WHO-advice to journalists (on accurate and responsible reporting).