AAP: Social media companies must curb spread of vaccine myths

AAP: social media companies must curb spread of vaccine myths

(HealthDay)—Google, Facebook, and Pinterest need to take more action against the growing threat to children posed by online misinformation about vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a letter sent to the social media companies.

"Pediatricians are working in our clinics and our communities, talking with families one-on-one about how important vaccines are to protect their . But it's no longer enough," AAP President Kyle Yasuda, M.D., said in an academy news release. "Our worst fears are being realized as measles outbreaks spread across the country. I reached out to the technology industry with an urgent request to work together to combat the dangerous spread of vaccine misinformation online."

Google (which owns YouTube), Facebook (which owns Instagram and WhatsApp), and Pinterest all say they are taking steps to tackle the problem, but the AAP says more needs to be done to ensure that parents have credible information about vaccines. In the letter, the AAP asks the companies to meet and discuss ways to work together to achieve that goal.

"We have an opportunity—and in my view, an obligation—to work together to solve this public health crisis," Yasuda said. "It will take commitments across all sectors—local and , the medical and public health community, and the technology industry—to do so."

More information: More Information

Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: AAP: Social media companies must curb spread of vaccine myths (2019, March 6) retrieved 22 June 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-03-aap-social-media-companies-curb.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Pinterest, YouTube say acting against anti-vaccine messages

 shares

Feedback to editors