How misinformation on social media has played a large role in the controversy surrounding the Covid-19 vaccination.
As we advance into a more technological and social media dependence society, it becomes more obvious the effects that media can cause. If we look within the last 20 years, we can begin to see the significant impact that media has on infiltrating the decisions we all make. It would be naïve for someone to say that they are not affected by misinformation as everyone encounters it daily. What we know about misinformation is that it’s everywhere, and the problem is the time it hard to differentiate what’s misinformation or not, that’s where everything becomes confusing.
Media’s Effect:
We’ve seen its effects in politics over the last two elections, but most recently, miscommunication has bled in two the medical field’s influences and opinions. That’s not to say that no skepticism or concern was surrounding medical vaccinations prior; in fact, this isn’t the first time we’ve run into problems such as misinformation in the medical field involving social media.
Michigan attorney general has joined with 11 other Atty. Gen. to ask Facebook and Twitter to take more robust measures in disrupting the spread. The Atty addressed Facebook and Twitter. Gen.’s to have them immediately enforced company guidelines against fixing misinformation. “A range of pro-vaccination marketing and educational campaigns have been launched to counteract vaccine misinformation on social media, including efforts to use the same social media sites where misinformation proliferates; however, they have not succeeded in increasing vaccine uptake”- Parents support for social media standards.
Anti-vaccine in 21st century:
Anti Vaccine: a person who disagrees with the use of vaccines and finds them unsafe and infringes on their human rights. The majority denies the validity or existence of science-supported and relies upon the general population.
18th century is when the term first surfaced at that time people who were against vaccines were referred to as Pro-inoculators: “Pro-inoculators tended to write in the cool and factual tones encouraged by the Royal Society, with frequent appeals to reason, the modern progress of science, and the courtesy subsisting among gentlemen. Anti-inoculators purposely wrote like demagogues, using heated tones and lurid scare stories to promote paranoia”-Iannellie. The term ‘Anti-Vaccine’ comes from the Anti-Vaccination League, created in 1853. The campaign has only grown over the centuries and has now become a matter of human rights. In 1990 the movement was fueled by TV talk shows that give anti-vaxxers the opponents to reach millions. We know to see this happing with the Covid Vaccine.
What can be done? Suggestions by: AJPH (American Public Health Association)
Develop and test effective responses: Further research needs to be done on which is the optimal timing and format for a response, as well as in some cases assessing that doing nothing will be more effective.
Understanding psychosocial drives: Do research into the reasoning and psychological processes of people’s decision making and rationalizing skills
Enhanced surveillance: Conducting a comprehensive understanding of different types of misinformation not only on mean platforms but on sub-platforms. “Efforts to systematically exploring the spatial, temporal, network, and cross-platform dynamics of misinformation spread.”
Get vaccinated !!!!!!
