Anti-intellectualism amid the COVID-19 pandemic: The discursive elements and sources of anti-Fauci tweets.

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 productio

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9892881 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature