April 17, 2019
By Robert Caamano
Editor
Social media platforms including Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube have begun to limit or completely remove anti-vaccine misinformation in response to a letter received by Adam Schiff, who serves in the House of Representatives. In this letter, Schiff expressed his concern about misleading information he saw on social media and its effects on Americans.
Pinterest, a site that allows users to post images on its wall, was among the first to begin curbing misinformation related to vaccination. Beginning in late February, the platform took actions to limit or completely ban all vaccine-related searches.
English teacher Mrs. Ruiz said she followed her doctor’s advice in vaccinating her daughters and disagrees with those who oppose vaccinating children.
“I do think it is a good idea to stop this information and ban it online, because I believe that many people are uneducated about vaccinations and their importance,” Ruiz said. “There needs to be stronger laws to protect the rest of us from potentially life-threatening diseases.”
She said vaccines should not be imposed upon people because this would violate their human rights, but she wants people to be informed of the risks that come with forgoing vaccinations.
“I have seen anti-vax information on my social media, and it actually upsets me…. The ignorance shocks and infuriates me,” Ruiz said. “It is dangerous to be uneducated, gullible and naive.”
Ruiz said although she cares about the issues, she has made a conscious decision not to post her own opinions about vaccination or start a fight by confronting those who post anti-vaccine content.
In Rockaway County, New York, unvaccinated children were banned from all public places with more than 10 people in it for 30 days due to the measles outbreak that occurred.
Parents who were found to be in violation were subject to a $500 fine or up to six months in prison. However, on April 19, Judge Rolf Thorsen temporarily blocked the county from enforcing the ban due to lawsuits filed by parents of schoolchildren.
All states require students to be vaccinated to attend school, but medical, religious and personal exemptions are offered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, many states are now attempting to remove the personal exemption.
While senior Gabby Schnur said vaccines should not be forced upon the public, she believes it is important for people to have access to factual information so they can make sound decisions.
“I think it is a good idea to stop vaccine misinformation online because then it gives people the wrong ideas, and they are misinformed about what vaccines truly do,” Schnur said.
She said she does not have a strong opinion on the vaccination argument and would not mind seeing anti-vaccine ads or posts.
“If I saw anti-vaccine information on my social media, I would read it and not be biased because I really don’t have a side I’m on,” Schnur said.
Soon after Pinterest stopped publishing vaccine-related content, YouTube announced that all anti-vaccine channels and videos will no longer receive ad revenue, meaning that it would no longer be possible to profit from misinformation on the platform.
Senior Matheus Sales said he is torn in his views about this type of censorship on social media.
“I don’t agree with anti-vaxxers but still think they should be able to voice their opinion,” Sales said. “I feel that outright stopping pro anti-vaxxers limits our free speech.”
However, Sales said he understands the importance of disseminating accurate information about vaccines.
“Anti-vaxxers should not be able to target certain people with ads because vaccination is a big decision for parents,” Sales said.
Instead of banning the topic, Facebook changed its algorithms to make anti-vaccine ads less visible. Facebook usually permits targeted ads, but it no longer allows anti-vaccine ads to target parents who are looking for information about vaccines, according to historyofvaccines.org.
Since Facebook also owns Instagram, this policy applies to that platform as well. In a blog, Facebook declared that all anti-vaccination content would no longer be recommended or advertised, announcing that it is beginning to implement a strategy to counter vaccine misinformation with hard facts. This means that more of the content read by users would be accurate and scientifically proven.
Advanced Placement Biology Teacher Dr. Dunn said he believes in free choice, especially when it comes to vaccinations.
“I’m gonna hit you with a debate and say maybe some of this misinformation isn’t misinformation, because some of the information is real, and some of it is is accurate and right on,” Dunn said. “The problem is that it should be free, informed ideology that could be put out.”
Dunn said his oldest son suffered an allergic reaction due to vaccinations he received when he was about four years old, but he still believes they are necessary.
“Measles, mumps, rubella, you know, your smallpox and those types of things, are really important. Those seem to be very successful,” Dunn said. “Their successes are far more beneficial than their [negative effects].”
He said as a chiropractor, he has been trained to view vaccines both cautiously and critically.
“I’ve studied vaccinations—remember my whole profession is about anti-vaccine—so for me to say vaccinations are good, I’m going against what I spent my whole graduate education learning,” Dunn said. “But my point is, they are beneficial, they work and if we all use them, that’s how they work.”
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