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Vaccine discourse in white nationalist online communication: A mixed-methods computational approach

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  • Walter, Dror
  • Ophir, Yotam
  • Lokmanoglu, Ayse D.
  • Pruden, Meredith L.

Abstract

Research has indicated a growing resistance to vaccines among U.S. conservatives and Republicans. Following past successes of the far-right in mainstreaming health misinformation, this study tracks almost two decades of vaccine discourse on the extremist, white nationalist (WN) online message-board Stormfront. We examine the argumentative repertoire around vaccines on the forum, and whether it assimilated to or challenged common arguments for and against vaccines, or extended it in ways unique to the racist WN agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Walter, Dror & Ophir, Yotam & Lokmanoglu, Ayse D. & Pruden, Meredith L., 2022. "Vaccine discourse in white nationalist online communication: A mixed-methods computational approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:298:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622001654
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114859
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