Post Reports The anti-vax wellness influencers
Oct 1, 2021
Ashley Fetters Maloy, a dedicated reporter for The Washington Post, shines a light on the troubling role of wellness influencers in spreading anti-vaccine misinformation. She exposes how these influencers blend serene imagery with alarming vaccine safety claims, fueling skepticism and prolonging the pandemic. The discussion covers the historical ties between vaccine hesitancy and holistic health, as well as the struggles social media faces in moderating misleading content. The podcast highlights the urgent need for effective strategies to challenge entrenched beliefs in this complex conversation.
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Unconventional COVID-19 Treatment
- Mark's relative advised him to treat COVID-19 with broth, probiotics, and a heavy metal detox.
- She believed heavy metals in vaccines caused the illness, highlighting her distrust in conventional medicine.
Wellness and Vaccine Hesitancy
- Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation often spread within wellness communities through innuendo and questioning.
- This tactic makes it difficult for platforms like Facebook to regulate the harmful rhetoric.
Shifting Influencer Views
- The pandemic caused a shift in some wellness influencers' views.
- They transitioned from promoting safety measures to questioning compliance and vaccine efficacy.