Analyzing the Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine Infodemic on Social Media: A Study of Human Behaviour in State of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Vaccinations are without a dispute one of modern medicine's greatest triumphs, and there is optimism that they may provide a cure to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the anti-vaccination campaign is on the increase, disseminating false information about vaccine safety on the internet and leading to a significant drop in immunization rates throughout the world. Throughout this historical moment, it is critical to comprehend the causes for vaccine apprehension and to devise effective methods to counter anti-vaccination proponents' propaganda. As a result, we looked at how anti-vaccination activists behaved on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Quora, Instagram, and YouTube. Anti-vaccination advocates, in comparison to pro-vaccination supporters, share conspiracy ideas and utilize emotive language, according to one study. We show that anti-vaccination activists are more active on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Quora, Instagram, and YouTube, and that they distribute their material with the help of powerful influencers. Based on the contents created by a small percentage of profiles, we show that the movement's success is dependent on a strong feeling of community, with the community at large functioning as a sounding board for anti-vaccination speech to spread online. Based on these findings, we support measures that attempt to stop the spread of misleading vaccine information by focusing on the anti-vaccination movement. We also offer ways to enhance health organization’s communication strategies and establish a community of motivated influencers that promote the transmission of scientific discoveries, particularly concerns connected to vaccinations and their safety, based on our findings.

Note:
Funding: This research received no external funding.

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Keywords: COVID-19, vaccine, infodemic social media