Hispanic and Latino Americans are more vulnerable to misinformation on social media, which contributes to their low Corona vaccination rates.
According to an Avaaz study, 70% of Facebook misleading posts were found in Spanish. They did not contain any warning signs about their content from Facebook, compared to 29% of misleading posts found in English.
This has a significant impact on Hispanic American vaccination rates. Many of the myths and misinformation circulating about the negative effects of COVID-19 vaccinations, according to Juliana Bonio, professor of medicine at the University of Virginia, have contributed to lower vaccination rates among America's Spanish community.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that only 17.1 percent of Hispanics or Latinos in America received one or more doses of the corona vaccine, compared to the national average of 62.7 percent. However, 18.5 percent of the U.S. population is Hispanic or Latino.
In general, false and misleading information impacts people's behavior and attitudes toward health issues. The Corona epidemic demonstrated this in the United States, particularly in California, where a California Farmers Foundation poll of state farmers found that 35% were strongly opposed to receiving the corona vaccination, while 15% were hesitant. According to the Foundation, misinformation was a direct cause of this level of opposition and hesitancy. According to the foundation's executive director, social media platforms and traditional media played a significant role in influencing the foundation's survey sample.
Returning to the impact of misinformation on Spanish speakers in the United States, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) discovered that only 22% of Spanish-language websites provided accurate and comprehensive coverage of elements of various diseases, compared to 45% of English websites.
Based on previous research comparing accurate health information available in Spanish on the Internet to misleading posts in Spanish without warning on Facebook, it is possible to conclude that Spanish speakers in the United States are more vulnerable not only to misinformation but also to the consequences of exposure to health misinformation.
Translated by Wesam Abo Marq
Misbar's Sources:
