Covid-19 and “Immune Boosting” on the Internet: A Content Analysis of Google Search Results

Author:

Rachul ChristenORCID,Marcon Alessandro R,Collins Benjamin,Caulfield Timothy

Abstract

Background: The spread of misinformation has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic, including topics such as immune boosting to prevent COVID-19. This study explores how immune boosting is portrayed on the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We conducted a content analysis of 227 webpages compiled from Google searches in Canada and the US using the phrase “immune boosting” AND “coronavirus”. We coded webpages for typology, portrayal of immune boosting and supplements. We also recorded mentions of microbiome, whether the webpage was selling or advertising an immune boosting product or service, and any suggested strategies for boosting immunity. Results: No significant differences were found between webpages that appeared in the searches in Canada and the US. The most common types of webpages were from news sites (40.5%) and commercial sites (24.7%). The concept of immune boosting was portrayed as beneficial for avoiding COVID-19 in 85.5% of webpages and 40% of the webpages portrayed supplements as beneficial, but commercial sites were more likely to have these portrayals. The top immune boosting strategies were vitamin C (34.8%), diet (34.8%), sleep (34.4%), exercise (30.8%), and zinc (26.9%). Less than 10% of the webpages provide any critique of the concept of immune boosting.Interpretation: Pairing evidence-based advice for maintaining one’s health (e.g., healthy diet, exercise, sleep) with the phrase immune boosting and strategies lacking in evidence may inadvertently help to legitimize the concept, making it a powerful marketing tool. Results demonstrate how the spread of misinformation is complex and often more subtle than blatant fraudulent claims.

Publisher

Center for Open Science

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

1. “Immune Boosting” in the time of COVID: selling immunity on Instagram;Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology;2020-09-03

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