Understanding online conflict and vaccine information
Researchers
Wendy Chun, Prem Sylvester, Matt Canute, Brandon Lee
Key takeaways
- Reddit users relied heavily on credible sources of information and engaged in nuanced discussions.
- However, conflict persisted on issues around vaccine access and rollout, vaccine safety and efficacy, governmental response to COVID-19, and users accusing each other of spreading misinformation.
Overview
Social media shapes how people in Canada access public health information — but it’s also a complex space where interactions can become contentious and drive people apart. To better understand these dynamics, BRC researchers at the Digital Democracies Institute (DDI) are exploring how conflict emerges in Canadian Reddit communities.
Researchers are piloting an AI-based analysis tool that identifies conflict in online conversations, revealing how Canadian Reddit communities debate, question, and make sense of vaccine information.
They found that Reddit users relied heavily on credible sources of information, such as federal, provincial, or international public health agencies, mainstream news (CBC, CTV, Global News, etc.), or scientific publications.
Reddit users often engaged in nuanced discussions to make sense of vaccine information amid misinformation, evolving evidence, and public confusion. However, several conflicts persisted despite strong community moderation:
- Vaccine access and rollout
- Safety and efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine
- Vaccine risk assessment
- Governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including public health measures such as vaccine mandates, lockdowns, and curfews
- Users accusing each other of spreading misinformation
Based on emerging findings, five recommendations are proposed for how public health organizations can better understand and leverage social media to communicate effectively, build public trust in vaccines, and respond to evolving public health concerns.
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