#Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine
This study aims to understand public discussions regarding COVID-19 vaccine on Parler, a newer social media platform that recently gained in popularity. Through analyzing a random sample (<i>n</i> = 400) of Parler posts using the hashtags #COVID19Vaccine and #NoCovidVaccine, we use the c...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-04-01
|
| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/5/421 |
| _version_ | 1797536653902872576 |
|---|---|
| author | Annalise Baines Muhammad Ittefaq Mauryne Abwao |
| author_facet | Annalise Baines Muhammad Ittefaq Mauryne Abwao |
| author_sort | Annalise Baines |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to understand public discussions regarding COVID-19 vaccine on Parler, a newer social media platform that recently gained in popularity. Through analyzing a random sample (<i>n</i> = 400) of Parler posts using the hashtags #COVID19Vaccine and #NoCovidVaccine, we use the concept of echo chambers to understand users’ discussions through a text analytics approach. Thematic analysis reveals five key themes: reasons to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine (40%), side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (28%), population control through the COVID-19 vaccine (23%), children getting vaccinated without parental consent (5%), and comparison of other health issues with COVID-19 (2%). Textual analysis shows that the most frequently used words in the corpus were: nocovidvaccine (348); vaccine (264); covid (184); covid19 (157); and vaccines (128). These findings suggest that users adopted different terms and hashtags to express their beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Further, findings revealed that users used certain hashtags such as “echo” to encourage like-minded people to reinforce their existing beliefs on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and vaccine acceptance. These findings have implications for public health communication in attempts to correct false narratives on social media platforms. Through widely sharing the scientific findings of COVID-19 vaccine-related studies can help individuals understand the COVID-19 vaccines efficacy accurately. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:03:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-723769d96f914742a996abe5e0ce6e06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:03:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-723769d96f914742a996abe5e0ce6e062023-11-21T16:44:44ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2021-04-019542110.3390/vaccines9050421#Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 VaccineAnnalise Baines0Muhammad Ittefaq1Mauryne Abwao2William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USAWilliam Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USAWilliam Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USAThis study aims to understand public discussions regarding COVID-19 vaccine on Parler, a newer social media platform that recently gained in popularity. Through analyzing a random sample (<i>n</i> = 400) of Parler posts using the hashtags #COVID19Vaccine and #NoCovidVaccine, we use the concept of echo chambers to understand users’ discussions through a text analytics approach. Thematic analysis reveals five key themes: reasons to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine (40%), side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (28%), population control through the COVID-19 vaccine (23%), children getting vaccinated without parental consent (5%), and comparison of other health issues with COVID-19 (2%). Textual analysis shows that the most frequently used words in the corpus were: nocovidvaccine (348); vaccine (264); covid (184); covid19 (157); and vaccines (128). These findings suggest that users adopted different terms and hashtags to express their beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Further, findings revealed that users used certain hashtags such as “echo” to encourage like-minded people to reinforce their existing beliefs on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and vaccine acceptance. These findings have implications for public health communication in attempts to correct false narratives on social media platforms. Through widely sharing the scientific findings of COVID-19 vaccine-related studies can help individuals understand the COVID-19 vaccines efficacy accurately.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/5/421COVID-19 vaccineecho chamberonline discussionsmisinformationParlersocial media |
| spellingShingle | Annalise Baines Muhammad Ittefaq Mauryne Abwao #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine Vaccines COVID-19 vaccine echo chamber online discussions misinformation Parler social media |
| title | #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine |
| title_full | #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine |
| title_fullStr | #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine |
| title_full_unstemmed | #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine |
| title_short | #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler Social Media Platform Tells Us about COVID-19 Vaccine |
| title_sort | scamdemic plandemic or scaredemic what parler social media platform tells us about covid 19 vaccine |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccine echo chamber online discussions misinformation Parler social media |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/5/421 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annalisebaines scamdemicplandemicorscaredemicwhatparlersocialmediaplatformtellsusaboutcovid19vaccine AT muhammadittefaq scamdemicplandemicorscaredemicwhatparlersocialmediaplatformtellsusaboutcovid19vaccine AT mauryneabwao scamdemicplandemicorscaredemicwhatparlersocialmediaplatformtellsusaboutcovid19vaccine |