Analysis of the Anti-Vaccine Movement in Social Networks: A Systematic Review

Elvira Ortiz-Sánchez, Almudena Velando-Soriano, Laura Pradas-Hernández, Keyla Vargas-Román, Jose L. Gómez-Urquiza, Guillermo A. Cañadas- De la Fuente and Luis Albendín-García
Additional contact information
Elvira Ortiz-Sánchez: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Almudena Velando-Soriano: Andalusian Health Service, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain
Laura Pradas-Hernández: Andalusian Health Service, San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital, 18016 Granada, Spain
Keyla Vargas-Román: Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Jose L. Gómez-Urquiza: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Guillermo A. Cañadas- De la Fuente: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Luis Albendín-García: La Chana Health Center, Granada Metropolitan District, Andalusian Health Service, 18015 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze social networks’ information about the anti-vaccine movement. A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and CUIDEN databases. The search equations were: “vaccine AND social network” and “vaccine AND (Facebook[title] OR Twitter[title] OR Instagram[title] OR YouTube[title])”. The final sample was n = 12, including only articles published in the last 10 years, in English or Spanish. Social networks are used by the anti-vaccine groups to disseminate their information. To do this, these groups use different methods, including bots and trolls that generate anti-vaccination messages and spread quickly. In addition, the arguments that they use focus on possible harmful effects and the distrust of pharmaceuticals, promoting the use of social networks as a resource for finding health-related information. The anti-vaccine groups are able to use social networks and their resources to increase their number and do so through controversial arguments, such as the economic benefit of pharmaceuticals or personal stories of children to move the population without using reliable or evidence-based content.

Keywords: vaccines; social networks; false information; internet; parents; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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