Anti-intellectualism amid the COVID-19 pandemic: The discursive elements and sources of anti-Fauci tweets.
Public Underst Sci
; 32(5): 641-657, 2023 07.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2224012
ABSTRACT
Anti-intellectualism (resentment, hostility, and mistrust of experts) has become a growing concern during the pandemic. Using topic modeling and supervised machine learning, this study examines the elements and sources of anti-Fauci tweets as a case of anti-intellectual discourse on social media. Based on the theoretical framework of science-related populism, we identified three anti-intellectual discursive elements in anti-Fauci tweets people-scientist antagonism, delegitimizing the motivation of scientists, and delegitimizing the knowledge of scientists. Delegitimizing the motivation of scientists appeared the most in anti-Fauci tweets. Politicians, conservative news media, and non-institutional actors (e.g. individuals and grassroots advocacy organizations) co-constructed the production and circulation of anti-intellectual discourses on Twitter. Anti-intellectual discourses resurged even under Twitter's content moderation mechanism. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for building public trust in scientists, effective science communication, and content moderation policies on social media.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Media
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Public Underst Sci
Journal subject:
Science
/
History of Medicine
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
09636625221146269
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