Has internet fueled anti-vaccine movement?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2019

I agree that the internet has allowed these kinds of conspiracy theories to grow and spread far wider than they would have back in the day.

allnurses Guide · Mar 4, 2019

I have a Face Book friend - on all accounts I have thought of her as a reasonably intelligent person - but she has a son with autism. Recently she has become a steadfast anti-vaxxer. I can't even talk to her about it because she is convinced that the science shows that she is right and that dam vaccine caused her son's autism.

a very wise man once said "One should never believe a thing simply because they want to believe it."

Still "vaccine awareness is not the only thing out there that denies hard science in the name of feelings...….

Hppy

brownbook · Mar 4, 2019

8 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:
I agree that the internet has allowed these kinds of conspiracy theories to grow and spread far wider than they would have back in the day.

Sad but true. I hope, think, schools are including in their curriculum, (HAVE to include in their curriculum), how to fact check internet rumors, fake news, etc.

Adults may be beyond help, but maybe we can teach the children how unreliable the Internet can be.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Mar 4, 2019

I read where a nurse recently got fired for posting anti-vaccine info on her website. May sound extreme, but I don't disagree with it because everyone is a nurse in the community, if you are working or not. People know this and when you post information that isn't factual regarding healthcare, that has an impact on people. It's more than just an opinion.

I have never, ever advocated forced healthcare, but I would absolutely support a mandatory vaccine program in this country with child neglect penalties for failure to comply. Do a delayed schedule if you want...but vaccinate your kid!!!

It's getting ridiculous and it's just a matter of time before polio starts coming back.

brownbook · Mar 4, 2019

I have to add, there was a recent news item...maybe not accurate???? I hope maybe it was fake news, but some representative from Texas said measles were no big deal, (implying why vaccinate against them), because we have antibiotics.

Daisy4RN · Mar 4, 2019

I agree with you that the internet and social media has caused a lot of problems in society as you have mentioned. It is scary how many people just blindly believe whatever they read/hear! Some people either don't know how to get to the facts or are uninterested in finding them. This anti vaccine issue is well out of control. I haven't heard what the outcome was but Seattle was attempting to mandate the measles vaccine because of the outbreak.

Asystole RN · Mar 4, 2019

Facebook's news feed uses a proprietary algorithm and machine learning to show you tailored sites that meet your online behavior.

You are seeing that site because your Facebook page and online behavior suggest that the website you went to would be pertinent to you.

The internet isn't causing people to be stupid or more radical, it just lets us see more stupid and radical people.

Its like terrorism or school shootings/violence, the incidence per capita have steadily gone down now for a long time but we just hear about it more because of the news and internet.

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Mar 4, 2019

In my opinion, yes. More specifically, I feel that Facebook is the main culprit. Anyone can post a random picture of a child in a vegetative state, with a caption saying the kid had a vaccine reaction, and cause average laypeople to start questioning vaccines. It has also fueled tons of pyramid schemes (so-called "multi-level marketing" companies), many of which are pseudo-healthcare-related, many of which espouse anti-vaccine philosophies. The movement has skyrocketed in the last 15 years, and I personally feel that would not be the case (or would be much less of the case) if Facebook weren't around. I know I sound like a cranky broom-shaking old lady (I am in my early thirties ?) but I recently deleted Facebook (I'd literally been a member since it first existed in 2004) due to the emotional exhaustion it was causing and it's been awesome.

Sour Lemon · Mar 5, 2019

It's a tool to be used for "good" or "evil". It helps us figure out the truth as often as it helps us spread lies.
I don't think it's "whackadoodle" as much as shady business practice(s). It seems like a lot of the sites and people making these types of claims are selling something ...even if it's just advertising space. The more sheep they add to the herd, the more money they make.

imagine7generations · May 22, 2019

Most of us are living in an echo chamber these days- only getting news and stories that fit what we have already been watching and reading. A lot of people are trying to dig deeper at why the other side thinks the way they do. This is a good take on the issue of measles from the other side:

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · May 22, 2019

12 hours ago, imagine7generations said:
Most of us are living in an echo chamber these days- only getting news and stories that fit what we have already been watching and reading. A lot of people are trying to dig deeper at why the other side thinks the way they do. This is a good take on the issue of measles from the other side:

That video is an hour and a half so I'm definitely not going to sit through all of it, however my take on the first five minutes is that likening vaccine supporters to Nazis is not a "good take." It's insane. I have no idea who that guy is or his claim to fame, but it's garbage. Not because I'm "living in an echo chamber," but because I have half a brain.