If you catch your old college roommate sharing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on Watch Vidocq OnlineFacebook, the odds are that these falsehoods are coming from one of twelve people.
That’s right. Just twelveindividuals.
A new reportfrom the Center for Countering Digital Hateand Anti-Vax Watchfound that up to 65 percent of “anti-vaccine content” on Facebook and Twitter originated from twelve influencers within the anti-vaxxer movement.
The report focused on these twelve accounts after an analysis of content that was shared and posted on Facebook and Twitter 812,000 times between Feb. 1 and March 16.
On Facebook alone, the content from these individuals, which the reports dubs as the “Disinformation Dozen,” accounts for 73 percent of all anti-vaxxer content posted or shared on the platform in the last two months.
The largest anti-vaxxer influencer on social media, according to the report, is Joseph Mercola. Mercola is an alternative medicine promoter who runs a multimillion dollar online business selling treatments and dietary supplements. The FDA recently sentMercola a warning over his sham treatments for COVID-19.
Another major culprit is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Kennedy, the nephew of John F. Kennedy, is perhaps one of the most high profile influencers in the anti-vaxxer community. Last month, Instagram bannedhim from the platform for violating the site’s coronavirus vaccine misinformation policy.
However, despite callsto deplatform him from Twitter and Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, Kennedy’s accounts remain on those social media services.
The other social media users in the “Disinformation Dozen” include Ty and Charlene Bollinger, Sherri Tenpenny, Rizza Islam, Rashid Buttar, Erin Elizabeth, Sayer Ji, Kelly Brogan, Christiane Northrup, Ben Tapper, and Kevin Jenkins.
While Facebook and Twitter have both committed to banning anti-vaccine content and the users who spread disinformation about vaccines, a majority of these twelve users have active accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. According to the report, all of them have an active account on at least one of these platforms.
Health misinformation was a huge problemin 2020 amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, more than 59 million people were reached on social media platforms at the end of last year by the 425 anti-vaxxer accounts which the organization tracks.
And, as the pandemic continues, the problem has not gone away. In fact, as coronavirus vaccines have begun to roll out over these past few months, anti-vaccination content has continued to surge.
For example, a recent reportfrom Media Matters For America found that beyond the 12 major influencers mentioned in this article, “micro-influencers” are having a moment on Instagram. Smaller accounts pushing misinformation are growing a following, violating Instagram’s vaccine misinformation policies, and operating undetected on the platform.
Topics Facebook Health Social Media
Google I/O 2019 had no foldable phones and it was all Samsung's faultAirborne NASA scientists just filmed worrisome melting over GreenlandCristiano Ronaldo and Dwayne Wade pull off amazing trick shots in new adsGoogle Maps AR directions won't come with a cute fox after allDonald Trump directs his Sunday morning Twitter rant at #Recount2016Peter Mayhew gets touching Star Wars tribute from astronaut on International Space StationDonald Trump's Christmas ornament made Amazon reviews great againFearless TV weathercasters show viewers Earth's soaring carbon levelsNASA posts image of an ancient galaxy crowd in the deep, deep cosmosFacebook gets petulant after coNASA posts image of an ancient galaxy crowd in the deep, deep cosmosIn other (nicer) news, the whole of New Zealand is doing a Secret Santa'Ghost Recon Breakpoint' avoids chance of nuance in fictional settingTaylor Swift reveals the 'Game of Thrones' influences in her albumsObama's final Thanksgiving message is a touching tribute to his daughtersThousands of people to Trump on Twitter: 'We can't just get along'Taylor Swift reveals the 'Game of Thrones' influences in her albumsNASA posts image of an ancient galaxy crowd in the deep, deep cosmosMovies and shows to stream Mother's Day weekend 2019Bran is the most relatable character on 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 'Time After Time' boss says it's much more than a time travel show This chatbot helps refugees claim asylum, for free Did this 'Game of Thrones' star just reveal when Season 7 will premiere? India hoists its tallest flag at the border but some are highly unimpressed Nintendo to Switch owners: Avoid aquariums if you're having Joy 'Feud: Bette and Joan' is about so much more than Hollywood's most infamous catfight J.K. Rowling slams Trump adviser who called a woman an 'ugly b*tch' on Twitter Sorry haters, you're never getting a dislike button on Facebook This week in apps: McDonald's, Duolingo's flashcards, and Meet by Google Telecom giants can finally stop caring about protecting your data 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' gets the most Olivier Award nominations in history The office furniture of the future actually looks pretty good 'The Last Man on Earth' kills off Trump's entire administration 'The Americans' lucks out with its ads in the New York Times Behind the scenes of the new badass, blockbuster 'Wonder Woman' Kate McKinnon plays Jeff Sessions as Forrest Gump in 'SNL' cold open Jay Z's venture capital fund is here Google Home spreads bizarre right No, a Japanese man wasn't crushed to death by his porn collection Emma Watson's reaction to her critics is sorta hypocritical—but a great learning moment
1.3144s , 8225.609375 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Watch Vidocq Online】,Prosperous Times Information Network