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Vaccines

Facebook to Remove Fake Claims About COVID-19 Vaccines From Platform and Instagram

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Facebook announced a new policy to remove posts sharing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines from its platform and Instagram, in an effort to combat the spread of misinformation about the virus. The move comes as two leading vaccine candidates from Pfizer and Moderna await approval for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration. Health experts warn that misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines could discourage Americans from getting immunized, leading to gaps in herd immunity and having a broader impact on society and economies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Facebook will remove posts sharing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, including ones claiming vaccines contain microchips or that some people will get doses without their consent.
  • The company will continue to update claims removed based on public health guidance, and will not be able to start enforcing these policies "overnight."
  • Facebook has been slow to act on false information about vaccines in the past, but has now announced a new policy to remove such content.
  • Health experts warn that misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines could lead to gaps in herd immunity and have a broader impact on society and economies.
  • At least 75% of the country would need to get vaccinated in order to achieve "close to some degree of normality," according to Anthony Fauci.
  • Conspiracy theories about the coronavirus have spread on Facebook and other social media platforms all year.
  • The American Medical Association said in 2019 that fake claims about vaccines on Facebook and other tech platforms may have had a role in disease outbreaks.
  • The US reported more than 1,000 cases of measles last year, a vaccine-preventable disease that had been largely wiped out.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,000 cases of measles were reported in the US last year.
  • At least 75% of the country would need to get vaccinated to achieve "close to some degree of normality."
  • Facebook announced it will remove posts sharing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines from its platform and Instagram.
  • Conspiracy theories about the coronavirus have spread on Facebook and other social media platforms all year.
  • Facebook has been slow to act on false information about vaccines in the past.

Sources:

  • Business Insider: "Facebook will start removing posts with false vaccine claims, and it's about time" (https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-will-start-removing-posts-with-false-vaccine-claims-2020-12)
  • Facebook: "Coronavirus: Statement on Facebook's response" (https://about.fb.com/news/2020/12/coronavirus/)
  • Business Insider: "American Medical Association says fake vaccine claims on Facebook may have led to measles outbreaks" (https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-warn-google-twitter-facebook-anti-vaxxers-2019-3)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Measles Cases and Outbreaks" (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html)

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