Why French Parents Unintentionally Share False Childhood Vaccine Information Online: Examining the Interrelationship Between Social Media Judgments and Sociocultural Perceptions

The French public has historically expressed high levels of vaccine hesitancy. Social media may further these judgments by acting as a central resource to both obtain and share content critical of vaccination. This investigation centers on factors contributing to French parents unintentionally sharing false childhood vaccine (CHV) information via social media. Results show that trust in social media as an information source acts as a key predictor of unintentionally sharing of false CHV information and acts as an intervening factor between cultural factors and unintentional sharing of this information. Institutional trust and cultural worldview—sociocultural factors that historically drive French vaccine hesitancy—operate as both antecedents to social media trust and more direct contributors to unintentional sharing of false CHV information. Contrary to expectations, institutional trust facilitates greater trust in social media platforms and increased unintentional sharing of false CHV information. Furthermore, those who harbor more hierarchical worldviews are more likely to trust social media as an information source and share false vaccine information. Overall, our findings suggest that public health initiatives must explore digital literacy initiatives that can aid in preventing French parents from sharing false vaccine information.