The scope and effects of vaccine misinformation on social media

Juliana L. Barbati, Kaylin L. Duncan, Kun Yan, Cindy Turner, Ida Tovar, Stephen A. Rains, Echo L. Warner

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Vaccination is one topic where misinformation has been particularly problematic on social media. This chapter spotlights the role of social media in the spread of vaccine misinformation. It begins by defining key terms and considering existing theory on this topic. The chapter considers the scope and content of vaccine misinformation on social media, its effects, its politicization, beliefs in misinformation, and how it can be combatted. Vaccination behavior has been widely understood through the theory of planned behavior. It explains how people's attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence whether or not they choose to engage in a particular behavior. A growing area in vaccine misinformation research concerns how people discuss vaccines and is explored by examining the psycholinguistic properties of relevant online messages using dictionary-based content analysis tools. One framework that can be used to understand the implications of political ideology for vaccine misinformation on social media is social identity theory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCommunication and Misinformation
Subtitle of host publicationCrisis Events in the Age of Social Media
PublisherJohn Wiley and Sons Inc.
Pages106-121
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781394184972
ISBN (Print)9781394184941
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 8 2025

Keywords

  • Behavioral control
  • Political ideology
  • Social identity theory
  • Social medical
  • Vaccine misinformation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Arts and Humanities
  • General Social Sciences

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