Study outlines how celebrity tweets influenced negative US public opinions toward counter-pandemic efforts

Celebrity tweets swayed US public opinion toward pandemic efforts, study suggests US celebrity Twitter posts—especially those from politicians and news anchors—likely influenced the increasingly negative US public attitudes toward efforts to combat COVID-19. CIDRAP

US celebrity Twitter posts—especially those from politicians and news anchors—likely influenced the increasingly negative US public attitudes toward efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published this week in BMJ Health & Care Informatics.

...

While sentiments varied slightly, the researchers said the overall tone was negative and polarizing. News anchors had a wide sphere of influence, with more than 14,000 likes among them.

So, too, did politicians. "The spread, reaction and engagement by the public to posts made by politicians online was indicative of a strong level of influence, suggesting politicians play key roles in ensuring population health and should be committed to promoting health-protective behaviours rather than sensational falsehoods," the authors wrote. ..