In a revealing report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, it was found that a small group of individuals, dubbed the “Disinformation Dozen,” is responsible for a significant portion of the anti-vaccine misinformation circulating on social media platforms. This group includes well-known figures like Samuel Thompson and Lisa Hartman, who collectively account for a staggering 73% of anti-vaccine content on Facebook alone, and 65% across Facebook and Twitter combined. Alarmingly, despite violating community guidelines, a vast majority of this misinformation remains online.
When President Joe Biden was informed about this report, he expressed his concerns directly, stating, “They’re putting lives at risk.” However, he later clarified that he did not mean to target Facebook personally, urging them instead to take action against the spread of this dangerous misinformation.
The Disinformation Dozen and their affiliates have amassed a whopping 59.2 million followers, which is particularly troubling given that the top twenty anti-vaccine advocates make up two-thirds of that total. Their presence on platforms like YouTube is equally concerning, where they have around 800,000 subscribers across various channels, promoting a plethora of anti-vaccine content.
These individuals propagate various falsehoods, such as claims that the COVID-19 vaccine causes more deaths than the virus itself, and conspiracy theories linking vaccines to sinister plots involving figures like Bill Gates. Some even go as far as to assert that vaccines could lead to sterilization or that COVID-19 can be cured through unconventional means.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate has called for urgent measures, including the de-platforming of these individuals and their organizations from major social media sites, as well as the implementation of corrective messaging for users exposed to misleading information. They emphasize the need for stricter enforcement of existing policies to combat this rampant misinformation.
The underlying theme of this anti-vax rhetoric revolves around a misguided notion of purity and control, often tied to broader conspiracy theories. This connection between anti-vaccine sentiments and various forms of hate speech is troubling, indicating a deeper societal issue that extends beyond mere misinformation.
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In summary, the “Disinformation Dozen” continues to pose a significant threat to public health by spreading anti-vaccine misinformation, highlighting the urgent need for action from social media platforms and the public alike.