UConn Researchers Study Anti-Vax Facebook Groups in Early Days of COVID-19 Pandemic
UConn researchers work studying the activity of anti-vaccine groups on Facebook in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic holds important lessons for public health officials. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo) Copy Link
Social media has become a powerful force for spreading information, and unfortunately, misinformation. Anti-vaccine groups have established a strong presence on social media sites like Facebook. A pair of UConn researchers recently found these groups quickly seized on the COVID-19 pandemic as their next avenue of mongering fears over a vaccine before it even existed.
UConn researchers Seth Kalichman, professor of psychology, and Lisa Eaton, professor of human development and family sciences, recently published their findings of a study of anti-vaccine Facebook groups’ communications during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Journal of Public Health.
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Researchers Study Anti-Vax Facebook Groups in Early Days of COVID-19 Pandemic
UConn researchers’ work studying the activity of anti-vaccine groups on Facebook in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic holds important lessons for public health officials.
Students receiving the COVID 19 vaccine at Hawley Armory on April 8, 2021. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Social media has become a powerful force for spreading information, and unfortunately, misinformation. Anti-vaccine groups have established a strong presence on social media sites like Facebook. A pair of UConn researchers recently found these groups quickly seized on the COVID-19 pandemic as their next avenue of mongering fears over a vaccine before it even existed.