"Silent Support: Republicans Backing Childhood Vaccine Mandates"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Ohio State University News
A study suggests that while most Republican voters support childhood vaccine mandates, they may be hesitant to publicly express these views due to a misperception of their support being in the minority, known as the false consensus effect. The overrepresentation of extreme views on social media can discourage those in the majority from speaking out, leading to self-censorship and hindering public mobilization of important public health policies. The study's findings also shed light on majority misconceptions about other issues, and the authors suggest that empowering individuals' self-confidence and media literacy could be key in overcoming self-silencing and promoting constructive online discourse.