The ability to freely push unproven theories on social media is causing big problems for public health officials trying to convince the country to listen to credible doctors about the pandemic and a vaccine.
Our phones and computers allow us to connect. We can become “friends”, “follow” each other, “like” photos and sometimes listen to unfiltered advice.
“It’s easy to spread fear. It’s harder to convince people of safety. That’s how it always is,” said Dr. Linda Fu, a pediatrician at Children’s National Hospital...
If you think a topic like this doesn’t come across your feed, think again says complexity and data science professor Neil Johnson.
“Although numerically, the people who are saying no to vaccines, is quite a small percentage, they have become interconnected,” he said.
That crossover is what Johnson studies at George Washington University. He says fringe groups are trickling into the mainstream.