ShutterstockThe vast majority of advertisements on Facebook spreading misinformation about vaccines are paid by just two organisations, according to a study that highlights the role of social media in giving a platform to unscientific anti-vaccine messages. The study, published in the journal Vaccine, also showed that the social media platform's efforts to improve transparency have actually led to the removal of ads promoting vaccination and communicating scientific findings. The researchers examined more than 500 vaccine-related ads served to Facebook users and archived in Facebook's Ad Library. As Facebook categorises ads about vaccines as "political," it has led the platform to reject some pro-vaccine messages, they said. Worse, these policies actually penalise pro-vaccine content since Facebook requires disclosure of funding sources for 'political' ads, but vaccine proponents rarely think of themselves as political," said Broniatowski.

Source: The Telegraph November 18, 2019 09:56 UTC