Thread by @ScienceUpFirst

Misinformation impacts Canadians’ mental and physical health everyday.

Would you be surprised if we told you some individuals are making a lot of money from misinformation?

#ScienceUpFirst

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Misinformation online is omnipresent, it represent:
-43% of vaccines post
-40-60% of pandemics related post
-30% of YouTube videos about emerging infectious diseases contained either misinformation or misleading information

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Social media platforms (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and blogs), as well as communication by public figures, media and online communities all contribute to the spread of misinformation.

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Did you know that only twelve individuals are responsible for 70% of all anti-vaccine content on Facebook. They are known as the disinformation dozen. From these, only three are responsible for nearly 50%.

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Misinformers use their social media platforms as “marketing funnels” to redirect people to their website where you can find:
-Products to buy
-Paid access to banned articles
-Paid newsletter/membership for every visit
Paid newsletter/membership

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Spotting a misinformer can be tricky. They create organizations that often use names and branding that appear official, authoritative, and in support of science. When in actuality they are used to collect donations and spread misinformation.

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Misinformers partner and support each other to expand their reach and revenue:
-They appear or are cited in each other's work
-They fund each other's organizations or campaigns

The result? An intricate and organized network of misinformation.

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So, how much money is misinformation making exactly?

Joseph Mercola, the main misinformation superspreader, is known to have made over $100 million using disinformation to promote his alternative health companies.

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Based on following alone, anti-vaccine accounts generate billions of U.S. dollars for the social media platforms that they are sharing on:

$1.1 billion: Facebook and Instagram
$318,250 in ad revenue: YouTube
$7.6 million: Twitter

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Minsinformers are making money out of people’s fear.

Health Canada and the FDA were faced with several supplement companies making false advertising claims about their products being able to boost the immune system, prevent, or cure COVID-19.

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Some products were unapproved, potentially dangerous, and sold for up to $23,000 USD.

The supplement and vitamin industry saw a 44% boost (representing $435 million)in the U.S. and up to 60% in the UK and France during the first wave of the pandemic.

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Social media is a huge part of the problem, but these platforms also have the potential to deeply disrupt the spread of misinformation online.

Following the Ebola epidemic, Facebook changed its policies about vaccine misinformation.

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Anti-vaccine pages were banned from advertising their content and from accepting donations on the platform, resulting in a significant decrease in following, website visits and donations.

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Tracking and exposing these major misinformation sources, by organizations such as the Center for Countering Digital Hate (@CCDHate), can also disrupt the disinformation flow by having these accounts deplatformed.

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Remember, falling for this intricate scheme is not a sign that you are not smart. It takes a lot of time, energy and expertise. Let’s be honest, after almost 3 years into the pandemic you might be low on time and energy to deal with misinformation.

#ScienceUpFirst

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That’s why it is even more important that you pause and think before you share.

Did you know misinformers were making that much money from sharing misinformation? Let us know in the comments 👇

Sources: tinyurl.com/SUFMisinformat…

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