The vax files: Social media reactions to pandemic plotlines

Giovanna Henery

doi:10.29329/jsomer.75

Authors

Giovanna Henery Colorado State University, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.75

Keywords:

Anti-vax, Conspiracy theories, Social media, Gab Social

Abstract

Conspiracy theories are a fact of contemporary online life, and their prevalence poses a significant concern, as conspiracy theory ideology nearly always correlates with increased support for, and participation in, political violence. However, not all conspiracy theories are created equal, and the less popular conspiracy theories tend to have a stronger association with political violence. Because of this tendency, anti-vaccination conspiracy theories are especially interesting, as their adherents tend to cross standard social and political divides, which enables more mundane anti-vax conspiracy theories to function as a sort of “gateway conspiracy theory” to more fringe theories. This study analyzes three anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, each representing a different level of popularity, within the largest public anti-vax group on the alt-tech social media platform Gab Social. The findings indicate that, in general, the more fringe a conspiracy theory is, the lower the level of user engagement it receives. Engagement is assessed through Gab's unique set of reaction options, including like, dislike, haha, angry, honk, love, salute, and pray. These results are cautiously encouraging, suggesting that more extreme conspiracy theories may not be gaining substantial traction among the broader anti-vax community on the platform.

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