The following research article (preprint) was recently shared on arXiv.
Title
Authors
Filipo Sharevski
DePaul University
Allice Huff
DePaul University
Peter Jachim
DePaul University
Emma Pieroni
DePaul University
Source
via arXiv
arXiv:2111.05815
November 10, 2021
Abstract
This paper reports the findings of a 606-participant study where we analyzed the perception and engagement effects of COVID-19 vaccine rumours on Twitter pertaining to (a) vaccine efficacy; and (b) mass immunization efforts in the United States. Misperceptions regarding vaccine efficacy were successfully induced through simple content alterations and the addition of popular anti COVID-19 hashtags to otherwise valid Twitter content. Twitter’s misinformation contextual tags caused a “backfire effect” for the skeptic, vaccine-hesitant reinforcing their opposition stance. While the majority of the participants staunchly refrain from engaging with the COVID-19 rumours, the skeptic, vaccine-hesitant ones were open to comment, re-tweet, like and share the vaccine efficacy rumors. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of broadening the effort for dispelling rumors about COVID-19 on social media.
Direct to Full Text Article
8 pages; PDF.
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