Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Shows

Updated May 14, 202111:48 AM ET
Heard on All Things Considered

SHANNON BOND

Researchers have found just 12 people are responsible for the bulk of the misleading claims and outright lies about COVID-19 vaccines that proliferate on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

"The 'Disinformation Dozen' produce 65% of the shares of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms," said Imran Ahmed, chief executive officer of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which identified the accounts.

For Some Anti-Vaccine Advocates, Misinformation Is Part Of A Business
SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS
For Some Anti-Vaccine Advocates, Misinformation Is Part Of A Business
Now the vaccine rollout is reaching a critical stage in which most adults who want the vaccine have gotten it, but many others are holding out, these 12 influential social media users stand to have an outsize impact on the outcome.

After this story published on Thursday, Facebook said it had taken down more of the accounts run by these 12 individuals.

These figures are well-known to both researchers and the social networks. They include anti-vaccine activists, alternative health entrepreneurs and physicians. Some of them run multiple accounts across the different platforms. They often promote "natural health." Some even sell supplements and books.

Many of the messages about the COVID-19 vaccines being widely spread online mirror what's been said in the past about other vaccines by peddlers of health misinformation.

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13...to-curb-vaccine-hoaxes

-------------------------
Dora Hates You