Mainstream media a more significant driver of vaccine hesitancy than blatantly false sources due to considerably higher viewership of mainstream media articles that raise doubts of vaccine safety and efficacy.
Category: Misinformation 101
-
Social media networks, fake news, and polarization
Bots impact information networks, increasing inaccurate news and driving polarization.
-
Supersharers of fake news on Twitter
Misinformation on X is spread by a small and easily-discernable number of accounts with large followings, thus adding to the body of evidence on misinformation “supersharers.”
-
The generality of belief in unsubstantiated claims
Those believing in conspiracy theories had greater inclination towards supporting superstitions, pseudoscience, and paranormal beliefs.
-
Misinformer Tactic: Astroturfing
Why hello Username573927561! Great to see you again! You’re definitely a real person whose opinions I should take seriously…
Astroturfing is a practice where a message appears to have lots of grassroots support, BUT that support is actually being orchestrated by one organization or individual. The name comes from the brand of synthetic ground cover made to look like grass: AstroTurf. It looks real and natural, but it’s actually fake and artificial.
Astroturfers can use this tactic on social media, masking their identity and operating via many accounts and personas. This process can also be automated via bots. For example, twitter bots are a major source of climate misinformation.
This tactic can be used online to spread misinformation. For example, one analysis found that fear-mongering tweets about vaccines were spread not only by individuals but by coordinated networks involved in political astroturfing.
Remember, not everything you read online is trustworthy. Make sure you’re getting your news from reliable sources.
Thanks to Jordan Collver for collaborating with us on this post. Check out his work on his website and on Twitter (@JordanCollver)
Sources- Twitter Bots Are a Major Source of Climate Disinformation | Scientific American | January 2021
- An analysis of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and fear mongering on Twitter | Public Health on PubMed Central | August 2021
Share our original Tweet!
Why hello @Username573927561! 😏 You’re a real person…right?! Or is this astroturfing? 👀🌱
— ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord (@ScienceUpFirst) October 25, 2024
Don’t fall for fake grassroots support that spreads misinformation via bots or coordinated networks. Stay savvy, and trust reliable sources! 👇 https://t.co/9VwJGRDopY#ScienceUpFirst pic.twitter.com/XGi2FvXbzHView our original Instagram Post!
-
The Politicization of Climate Science: Media Consumption, Perceptions of Science and Scientists, and Support for Policy
Perceptions of climate change marked by political leaning. Consumers of media outlets from the political right demonstrate the least amount of belief in anthropogenic climate change and lowest levels of support for “climate-friendly” policy.
-
Self-certification: A novel method for increasing sharing discernment on social media
An intervention that requires users to verify belief in a new post’s truthfulness demonstrates a reduction in spreading false information.
-
Corrective or Backfire: Characterizing and Predicting User Response to Social Correction
Encouraging the disbelief in inaccurate information can be aided with politeness, a positive attitude, and ample evidence.
-
How Americans Get News on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram
Many Americans report using big four social media platforms to get news and often see accuracy issues in observed information.
-
Engaging in effective health crisis communication in times of populism
Increased beliefs in populism associated with increased levels of gullibility and increased beliefs in rumors.
-
Companies inadvertently fund online misinformation despite consumer backlash
Company leaders claim to be unaware that their advertising appears on misinformation websites, which leads to revenue gains.
-
Beyond misinformation: developing a public health prevention network for managing information ecosystems
An overview of the tools that can be used to counter misinformation including prevention tactics such as improving literacy and prebunking, and early-stage interventions focused on debunking, and active community engagement that includes attentive listening.
-
Toolbox of individual-level interventions against online misinformation
An overview of nine types of misinformation interventions that includes their conceptualization, target, scope, and summary of empirical evidence supporting effectiveness.
-
Auditing Entertainment Traps on YouTube: How Do Recommendation Algorithms Pull Users Away from News
YouTube’s algorithm recommends entertainment over news content, which can lead people away from information or learning.