If you search for “Mercola” on YouTube, you’ll quickly find him among the “Disinformation Dozen” identified by the Center for Countering Digital Hate as a leading spreader of COVID-19 misinformation. With 394K subscribers, he stands out as a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine community. His channel features a pinned post promoting “Dr. Mercola’s New Book, The Truth About COVID-19.” Spoiler alert: by “truth,” he refers to a conspiracy theory concocted from dubious sources and a blatant disdain for figures like Bill Gates.
Mercola’s promotional video claims, “The technocratic overlords continue to control the pandemic narrative,” all while showcasing a COVID-19 vaccine against the backdrop of rising death tolls. Phrases such as “tracking technology” serve as veiled references to the unfounded “vaccine microchip” conspiracy. While he doesn’t directly claim the pandemic is a hoax or advocate against mask-wearing, his messaging cleverly avoids violating YouTube’s COVID-19 Medical Misinformation Policy while still promoting harmful ideas.
His video includes a screenshot of an Amazon review stating, “Dr. Mercola uncovers the true facts behind the worldwide PLANdemic,” which, while misleading, doesn’t technically breach any policies. Frustratingly enough, YouTube then recommended a video titled “Vitamin D and COVID-19: The Evidence for Prevention and Treatment of Coronavirus.” Although Professor Roger Seheult, MD, does not claim that Vitamin D is a cure-all for COVID-19, he still operates within YouTube’s content guidelines. Similarly, the video “COVID-19 and Zinc” is suggested, despite the creator lacking an MD and over a million subscribers, making vague claims that skirt the truth.
This situation highlights the urgent need for a reevaluation of YouTube’s guidelines regarding COVID-19 misinformation.
The Role of Algorithms
Social media platforms significantly contribute to the spread of vaccine misinformation, which poses serious risks. Facebook and YouTube not only fail to prevent harmful content from slipping through their enforcement measures, but their algorithms actively promote it. These platforms create echo chambers that foster communities resistant to vaccines, resulting in real-world consequences, such as the spread of variants like Delta.
For instance, Dr. Campbell’s zinc video led me to another that blatantly violates YouTube’s guidelines by promoting Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, despite being primarily an anti-parasitic drug for animals. This pattern continues, with misinformation circulating about both Ivermectin and the safety of vaccines for children, all while skirting community guidelines.
Addressing Facebook’s COVID-19 Misinformation
According to The Washington Post, an experiment conducted by the advocacy group Avaaz revealed that Facebook’s algorithm readily recommends anti-vaccine content. In just two days, two test accounts were suggested 109 anti-vaccine pages. While Facebook claims to have removed 18 million pieces of COVID-19 misinformation, the reality is that its enforcement is inadequate.
After searching for “COVID vaccine,” I was led to a post using the hashtag #covidvaccinesideeffects, which insinuated that vaccines are dangerous. This blatant violation of Facebook’s policy on vaccine safety claims further illustrates the platform’s need for improved oversight.
The Challenge of Shielded Misinformation
Anti-vaccine groups have become increasingly clever in circumventing platform restrictions. For instance, one group on Facebook dubbed itself “Dance Party” and used coded language to evade detection. Erin Elizabeth previously employed similar tactics on Instagram, obscuring critical terms to bypass content guidelines.
Urgent Need for New Regulations
Both YouTube and Facebook’s community guidelines are inadequate, allowing misinformation to flourish unchecked. To combat this dangerous trend, these platforms must enhance their enforcement mechanisms and reassess their algorithms. Users also play a crucial role: reporting harmful content can help mitigate its spread.
Ultimately, both platforms must urgently revise their policies to prevent the ongoing dissemination of COVID-19 misinformation, which continues to endanger lives.
For a deeper dive into home insemination, check out our other blog post here.
Summary: Social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook are struggling to effectively curb COVID-19 misinformation despite having community guidelines in place. Algorithms often promote harmful content, creating echo chambers that contribute to vaccine resistance. A reevaluation of these platforms’ policies and enforcement strategies is urgently needed to mitigate the spread of misinformation and protect public health.
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