Taking down online scientific misinformation isn’t necessary, as most people don’t believe it, says Royal Society
BMJ 2022; 376 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o182 (Published 21 January 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;376:o182
- Rebecca Coombes
- The BMJ
Most people in the UK agree with the scientific consensus on key issues such as vaccination and climate change and believe that the internet has improved the public’s understanding of science, finds a new report from the Royal Society.1
The report, which investigated the effects of scientific misinformation online, concluded that removing harmful information from the internet could actually make the situation worse.
The covid-19 pandemic has seen a proliferation of misinformation on the internet about the vaccines as well as false remedies being sold online. Conspiracy theories about the vaccines include accusations that they implant microchips, can alter DNA, and were created before …
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