Signal Health misinformation in over half of vaccine social media posts

Summary

The report sees false information as capable of polarising public debate, eroding trust in institutions and endangering the environment and public health. As evidence it cites a 2022 review that found health misinformation widespread in more than half of social media posts about vaccines. The report explains that this misinformation further weakened trust in public health responses. Children, older adults, unemployed people and marginalised groups are especially susceptible to false information, which can affect their mental and physical health. Over the longer term, the report expects that mistrust of experts could lead people to believe false claims, lowering vaccine uptake and threatening public health.