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talkpoliticsOne third of all conspiracy theories and fake news about the dangers of vaccination on the social media come from just 12 opinion pushers who have a large number of online followers. This is revealed in a study completed by the British NGO Center for Combating Digital Hate, cited by Sky News:
Two-thirds of anti-vax propaganda online created by just 12 influencers, research finds
Most of these 12 people live in the US, some of them are politicians while others are doctors, but the most successful among them are exceptional salespeople. Unlike the bulk of those consumers who describe themselves as "skeptical" about the benefits of vaccination, anti-vax influencers use aggressive methods to persuade people not to get vaccinated.
After the major global social networks began pushing back against anti-vaxxer propaganda, much of this content was removed, but there is still enough similar information that continues to circulate online. Most often, propaganda materials aim to sow fear, claiming that vaccines kill people, or lead to infertility or increase the risk of hospitalisation. These claims are usually "supported" by completely fabricated or out-of-context statistics.
In addition, the algorithms of the social networks themselves increase the risk of misinformation, because when a person views some content online, the system automatically offers them more and more of the same and wraps them in an echo chamber in effect. This large-scale disinformation campaign is especially dangerous for young people and other groups who spend a lot of time online.
Anti-vaccine propaganda usually begins with content related to health or fertility, which gradually becomes misinformation about vaccines. In recent months, to bypass the ever evolving filters against anti-vaccine propaganda, these messages have often been presented as jokes, but they are ultimately designed to call COVID-19 vaccination into question.
According to the Center for Combating Digital Hate, the followers of anti-vaccine propaganda already number over 62 million worldwide. They generate revenue of $1.1 billion a year for the large technology companies. And the so-called anti-vaxxer industry, represented by these 12 influencers, earns at least $35.8 million a year.
Two-thirds of anti-vax propaganda online created by just 12 influencers, research finds
Most of these 12 people live in the US, some of them are politicians while others are doctors, but the most successful among them are exceptional salespeople. Unlike the bulk of those consumers who describe themselves as "skeptical" about the benefits of vaccination, anti-vax influencers use aggressive methods to persuade people not to get vaccinated.
After the major global social networks began pushing back against anti-vaxxer propaganda, much of this content was removed, but there is still enough similar information that continues to circulate online. Most often, propaganda materials aim to sow fear, claiming that vaccines kill people, or lead to infertility or increase the risk of hospitalisation. These claims are usually "supported" by completely fabricated or out-of-context statistics.
In addition, the algorithms of the social networks themselves increase the risk of misinformation, because when a person views some content online, the system automatically offers them more and more of the same and wraps them in an echo chamber in effect. This large-scale disinformation campaign is especially dangerous for young people and other groups who spend a lot of time online.
Anti-vaccine propaganda usually begins with content related to health or fertility, which gradually becomes misinformation about vaccines. In recent months, to bypass the ever evolving filters against anti-vaccine propaganda, these messages have often been presented as jokes, but they are ultimately designed to call COVID-19 vaccination into question.
According to the Center for Combating Digital Hate, the followers of anti-vaccine propaganda already number over 62 million worldwide. They generate revenue of $1.1 billion a year for the large technology companies. And the so-called anti-vaxxer industry, represented by these 12 influencers, earns at least $35.8 million a year.
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Date: 24/1/22 18:54 (UTC)