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I don't use instagram much aside from following a few people who take cool photos, but... WHY would anyone who is genuinely unsure and looking for information

I don't use instagram much aside from following a few people who take cool photos, but... WHY would anyone who is genuinely unsure and looking for information on vaccinations either search instagram or even make it there and be exposed to these hashtags. It's not exactly an information rich platform. It seems like people who are already established in the anti vax movement would be the only ones following this hashtag. In that case, censoring these tags does seem like it's a bit over the top. While I believe they are wrong, people should be allowed to think what they want and even share it with others who are like minded. I just don't buy the argument that this is in some way protecting people from being exposed to misinformation and is simply facebook 'vaxwashing' for feel good credibility.

mft_ 7y ago
I like your comment, and it’s kind of comforting - because it means we don’t have to worry too much, as you suggest the anti-vaxxers are like a neat little self-contained cult who don’t venture out of their compound. However, in reality, it’s probably a gradual process of belief change or formation - people don’t move from slightly unsure to frothing-at-the-mouth anti-vaxxer overnight. And this sort of disinformation may well be accessed and become influential to people who are part-way through that process.
reaperducer 7y ago
WHY would anyone who is genuinely unsure and looking for information on vaccinations either search instagram or even make it there and be exposed to these hashtags. It's not exactly an information rich platform. Because not everyone is personally information-rich. Just like back when large groups of people thought AOL was "the internet," there are people now who believe Facebook, or YouTube, or Instygram are "the internet." And those silos are their only source of information. What are their alternatives, now that the internet has killed information? Libraries are inconvenient (few locations, short hours; some of the libraries in my county are only open for a few hours two or three days a week). Outside of a few large cities, there is no more radio news. Quality TV news is hard to find. In large swaths of the United States there isn't a local newspaper anymore, and even if there was, you couldn't buy it (There must be 50 Starbucks in my city, but not one sells newspapers anymore. The other coffee shops followed suit. No papers at gas stations or supermarkets, either anymore. If you want a paper, you subscribe or go to the airport.) The masses followed the information and their friends and ended up in social media hell. It's only natural for the organizations trying to target them to go there, as well.

mft_ 7y ago

I like your comment, and it’s kind of comforting - because it means we don’t have to worry too much, as you suggest the anti-vaxxers are like a neat little self-contained cult who don’t venture out of their compound. However, in reality, it’s probably a gradual process of belief change or formation - people don’t move from slightly unsure to frothing-at-the-mouth anti-vaxxer overnight. And this sort of disinformation may well be accessed and become influential to people who are part-way through that process.

reaperducer 7y ago

WHY would anyone who is genuinely unsure and looking for information on vaccinations either search instagram or even make it there and be exposed to these hashtags. It's not exactly an information rich platform. Because not everyone is personally information-rich. Just like back when large groups of people thought AOL was "the internet," there are people now who believe Facebook, or YouTube, or Instygram are "the internet." And those silos are their only source of information. What are their alternatives, now that the internet has killed information? Libraries are inconvenient (few locations, short hours; some of the libraries in my county are only open for a few hours two or three days a week). Outside of a few large cities, there is no more radio news. Quality TV news is hard to find. In large swaths of the United States there isn't a local newspaper anymore, and even if there was, you couldn't buy it (There must be 50 Starbucks in my city, but not one sells newspapers anymore. The other coffee shops followed suit. No papers at gas stations or supermarkets, either anymore. If you want a paper, you subscribe or go to the airport.) The masses followed the information and their friends and ended up in social media hell. It's only natural for the organizations trying to target them to go there, as well.