Antivaccine discourse on social networks: analysis of the most frequent arguments.

Abstract

Introduction: Anti-vaccines groups are proliferating in social networks and it is interesting to know their ideology so health professionals can argue based on scientific evidence. Our goal is to explore this ideology in social networks and it has been done through a qualitative study using discourse analysis. After exploring Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, it is proven that the key to anti-vaccination arguments lies in the lack of trust and fear.

Methodology: Qualitative study using discourse analysis. An exhaustive search of information was made through the search engines of social networks Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in Spanish and English during October 2017. The keywords runned were "dangerous vaccines" "vaccination danger".The analysis was carried out until information saturation was achieved and that was achieved after analyzing more than 800 tweets, viewing 42 Youtube videos and reviewing information in 12 groups and 9 Facebook Fan Page. The information collected was codified in story categories.

Results: anti-vaccines discourses revolve around aspects related to safety, effectiveness, importance and the values and beliefs of people.Mistrust prevails in the discourse of anti-vaccine people. They distrust both the health personnel and the sources of official information, the Government and pharmaceutical companies.

Conclusions: It is important that health professionals know the arguments of people who reject vaccines in order to offer an adequate response. This analysis can serve as information on which to rely in a calm dialogue and in search of an essential element for success: trust.