Behind the Mask: Unmasking the Deception of Sock Puppets and Fake Sources in the Vaccine Misinformation Age
The internet, once hailed as a democratization of information, has become a fertile breeding ground for misinformation and manipulation. In the ever-evolving landscape of online discourse, anti-vaccine narratives have found a particularly potent weapon: the insidious art of sock puppetry. The Puppeteer's Playground: From Twitter Eggs to Elaborate Webs On platforms like Twitter, creating multiple accounts is child's play. These "sock puppets," often masquerading as seemingly genuine individuals, weave a web of misinformation. Anti-vaccine proponents meticulously craft personalities, curate timelines, and engage in conversations, carefully injecting their harmful rhetoric into legitimate discussions about public health. Imagine a Twitterverse populated by Dr. ConcernedMD, NurseKnowsBest, and GrandmaGotDuped, all spouting the same debunked myths and anxieties about vaccines. This orchestrated chorus can easily mislead unsuspecting users, especially those already hes...