Anti-vaccine discourse on YouTube: the mediation of influencers

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v15i1.2281

Keywords:

Misinformation, Anti-vaccine, Speech, YouTube, Influencers.

Abstract

This article presents results from a research on anti-vaccine speech in 14 of the most relevant YouTube videos showed in 2018 and 2019, considering the amount of views, likes, dislikes, and comments. The study identifies arguments and meanings constructed by the mediators, from the natural perspective, which associates vaccine with the idea of poison, risks and death; and the political perspective, which triggers individual freedoms and power plans for big pharma’s population reduction and profit. At the intersection between the two perspectives, religious aspects make up the frame of the discourses. The qualitative and quantitative analysis points to the need to invest in communication strategies that clarify and deconstruct the disseminated false or distorted information. It also signals the importance of dialogue with an unbelieving public with political, scientific and media institutions, where the threat of punishment by law is no obstacle to vaccine refusal or hesitation.

Author Biographies

Antonio Marcos Pereira Brotas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA

Doutorado em Cultura e Sociedade pela Universidade Federal da Bahia.

Márcia Cristina Rocha Costa, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Centro de Artes, Humanidades e Letras. Cachoeira, BA

Doutorado em Cultura e Sociedade pela Universidade Federal da Bahia.

Junia Ortiz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA

Doutorado em Comunicação e Cultura Contemporâneas pela Universidade Federal da Bahia.

Caio Costa Santos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA

Graduando em Jornalismo pela Universidade Salvador.

Luisa Massarani, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Casa de Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Doutorado em Educação, Gestão e Difusão em Biociências pela Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

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Published

2021-03-22

How to Cite

Brotas, A. M. P., Costa, M. C. R., Ortiz, J., Santos, C. C., & Massarani, L. (2021). Anti-vaccine discourse on YouTube: the mediation of influencers. Revista Eletrônica De Comunicação, Informação & Inovação Em Saúde, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v15i1.2281

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2021): Dossiê Comunicação, Saúde e Crises Globais: parte 2

Section

Communication, health and global crisis dossier

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