Anti-vaccine group moderators said Facebook provided an environment where they could safely offer support to others.
Talking about vaccines with trusted health care providers and with family can help wade through the sea of information – and misinformation.
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Jaime Sidani, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences; Beth Hoffman, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, and Maya Ragavan, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences
With COVID-19 shots finally available for infants and preschoolers, knowing how to combat misinformation on social media and elsewhere could be more important than ever.
Katie Attwell, The University of Western Australia and Tauel Harper, The University of Western Australia
Contrary to the popular belief that social media creates rumours about COVID vaccine harms, new research suggests social media generally only aids the spread of these rumours.
Some of the most persistent myths about COVID-19 vaccination have been false rumours that it can affect fertility in men or women. There has never been any evidence to support this misinformation.
Social media is popular among young Nigerians.
Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images
The study indicates that social media platforms are central to how young adults make sense of COVID-19 news and messages.
A person holds a copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms during the so-called freedom convoy protest on Parliament Hill.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Canadian Constitution compels a proportionate weighing of all Charter rights against the threat of COVID-19, meaning that individual freedom is not absolute.
Tech giants such as Spotify like to claim they are platforms, not publishers, and aren’t editorially responsible for the content they host. But with COVID threatening lives, they have to do better.
Spotify will pull Neil Young’s music after the musician demanded the streaming service remove The Joe Rogan Experience from its platform, as an episode of the podcast promoted COVID misinformation.
Fact-checking risks oversimplifying and distorting Americans’ political conflicts, while not actually helping people find ways to work together productively.
It can be difficult to distinguish between the calls of sincere scientists for more research to reach greater certainty, and the politically motivated criticisms of science skeptics.
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Skeptics may make demands for absolute certainty to undermine science and delay action. Critiques may not be in the interest of advancing science and public health, but by someone with an agenda.
Health care providers are just one trusted source of information for parents on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children.
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Jaime Sidani, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences; Beth Hoffman, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, and Maya Ragavan, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences
Pediatricians and other health care providers can take some concrete steps toward building trust and counteracting anti-vaccination misinformation.
An anti-vaccination protest in London.
Joshua Windsor/Alamy
Clive Palmer says vaccines don’t work and Craig Kelly is among those misinterpreting statistics to suggest COVID vaccines are causing more deaths overseas.
They’re calling for advice before using bleach or disinfectant. Or they’re calling to ask about side-effects after gargling, spraying or bathing in them. It’s a worry.
Professor in Law and Co-Convener National Security Hub (University of Canberra) and Research Fellow (adjunct) - The Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, University of Canberra