Appendix 2.

Sources of epidemic-related information (only available in wave 1)

Sources of information	Full sample	Age				Gender			Education			Occupation
		⩽25	26–45	⩾46	χ2 test	Male	Female	t test	High school or below	⩾College	t test	Government/public institution/SOE	Other	t test
TV/radio/newspapers	61.15	59.76	60.24	67.00	5.11	58.88	64.17	−2.34*	63.55	59.42	1.82	61.74	60.04	0.64
Community radio/high-pitched speakers	25.20	22.63	25.76	28.28	3.70	24.20	26.66	−1.22	27.59	23.41	2.07*	23.67	27.32	−1.53
Friends and relatives	22.98	21.93	19.49	37.04	40.53***	23.63	22.20	0.73	23.40	22.57	0.42	19.33	22.78	−1.55
News websites/Apps	60.25	62.52	62.98	46.46	27.99***	61.44	59.23	0.97	52.09	66.42	−6.36***	62.33	59.56	1.05
WeChat	61.36	58.72	64.54	55.56	10.29**	61.44	61.28	0.07	58.87	63.25	−1.93	62.33	63.51	−0.45
Weibo	39.17	51.81	38.49	16.84	101.23***	41.49	36.43	2.24*	30.17	45.99	−7.05***	41.03	36.00	1.91
QQ	22.35	35.58	18.02	11.45	89.74***	25.99	17.61	4.36***	22.04	22.57	−0.27	24.06	18.73	2.44*
Short video Apps	36.90	43.18	36.92	24.58	29.16***	36.67	37.15	−0.21	38.79	35.54	1.45	33.33	38.13	−1.83
Knowledge sharing websites	16.24	22.11	15.38	7.74	30.98***	17.84	14.23	2.12*	14.29	17.72	−2.00*	17.55	14.48	1.57
Moment	57.43	53.44	58.53	62.64	5.34	59.52	54.79	1.78	57.85	57.30	0.20	59.64	59.01	0.21

*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.