(Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania) During the 2016 election cycle, politically polarizing tweets by Russian trolls about vaccination included pro- and anti-vaccination messages targeted at people with specific political inclinations through a nine different fake persona types, according to a new study. Now, as the nation deals with the coronavirus pandemic, the researchers raise concerns that such polarization potentially affects crisis communications and creates tensions, mistrust, and a lack of intention to comply with government health directives.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-03/appc-rto033120.php