Aspecte privind grupurile înfiinţate pe facebook, pe fondul pandemiei de Covid-19

Abstract

The need to communicate and to ask for and offer help was strongly felt during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the space provided by the internet, there was a mobilisation to provide information and help through communication in social networking groups. The pandemic triggered the apparition of social groups dedicated to the issue. This study presents aspects related to the dynamics of virtual groups and analyses the activity of 18 Romanian groups established on Facebook. The reference period is March 2020 - August 2022. It is a fundamental research, with an evaluative character, aiming to obtain new knowledge on the behaviour in the virtual environment as a reaction to the social environment in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis of social media groups showed that with the spread of SARS-CoV-2, groups dedicated to the issue appeared on the social media platform Facebook, where participants expressed various opinions or experiences. These groups were created by individuals who declared from the outset the purpose of the group and its character (private or public). At the same time, the Covid-19 groups represent a (informational and psychological) support environment for people affected by the virus, all the more so as isolation at home or quarantine has been imposed in some cases and the need for communication has increased.