Ethan Lindenberger testifying to the U.S. Senate. Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Ethan Lindenberger was raised by an anti-vaccination (anti-vax) parent. When he turned 18, he promptly got all the vaccinations he could get, protecting himself and those around him against deadly and communicable diseases. He was lucky to make it to 18 without issue, and now he’s helping to ensure other parents cannot endanger their children similarly.
Where did his mother learn the false information about vaccines, endangering her own son and everyone he interacted with through lower herd immunity? The same place many other parents have learned dangerous misinformation: Facebook. In fact, Mr. Lindenberger says Facebook was the sole source of his mother’s foolish and misguided views.
Now Facebook, like YouTube, is doing something to stop the spread of dangerous anti-vax disinformation on their site.
Facebook’s Fake News Problem Spreads to Health
Facebook is a hotbed for fake news and propaganda. People share stories without verifying their authenticity. In that way, fake news about politics, policies, government, minorities, LGBTQ people, and others spread wildly.
This has also allowed the proliferation of anti-vax material in a similar fashion. While those spreading xenophobic fake news do so to reinforce their own prejudice and fears, anti-vax sites spread false information using parents’ fears.
Every parent fears that their child will be hurt, injured, or have some impairment that could get in the way of their ability to lead a happy, full life. False information about vaccines causing autism, combined with prejudice and misinformation about the autism spectrum, lead some parents to choose not to vaccinate their children.
Let me just say this now: vaccines do not cause autism. No study has ever shown this. Furthermore, autistic children are gifts like any other, and are far better than sick or dead children, the actual result of anti-vax ideology.
New Anti-Anti-Vax Measures
Facebook will attack untrue anti-vax content moving forward. They’ve banned anti-vax advertisements, and will work to spread actual information about vaccines to parents who were exposed to false information about vaccines. They’ll also ensure that stories about vaccines don’t spread as easily. They won’t be at the top of feeds. Facebook wants to help
Some may claim that Facebook’s measures, pushing anti-vax posts to the bottoms of feeds and countering them with truthful information, is a form of censorship. And perhaps it is. Some would say that any form of censorship is bad. I see where they’re coming from.
However, the spread of fake information has never been a problem as it is today. We face an unprecedented issue. Because of this, companies like Facebook and YouTube need to take extreme measures to protect their users and their users’ children. Unfortunately, we have to protect children from the misinformation that’s afflicting their parents. It’s unfortunate that this is necessary, but it’s all we can do.
Vaccinate.
At least 100,000 children suffer from their parents’ decision not to vaccinate in the United States. The World Health Organization considers anti-vax ideology one of the top threats to public health. Meanwhile, a new study has proven, again, that vaccines do not cause autism. Facebook will ensure this information spreads to those who need to hear it. If parents truly want to protect their children, they need to vaccinate them.
Sources:
- Michael Brice-Saddler, The Washington Post
- Aristos Georgiou Newsweek
- Sophie Lewis, CBS News
- Stephanie Watson, WebMD