Política, sanidad y desinformación: argumentos en Instagram de los partidos de extrema derecha europea sobre las vacunas contra la COVID-19

Sebastián Sánchez-Castillo; Carlos López-Olano; Àlvar Peris-Blanes

doi:10.4185/RLCS-2023-1870

Authors

Sebastián Sánchez-Castillo Universidad de Valencia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3751-6425
Carlos López-Olano Universidad de Valencia- Facultad de Filología https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8121-5999
Àlvar Peris-Blanes - Universidad de Valencia- Facultad de Filología

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2023-1870

Keywords:

Disinformation, content analysis, far right, Instagram, image.

Abstract

Introduction: This research has analyzed the visual discourse on Instagram of the European far-right parties in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Austria and Poland on the COVID-19 vaccines carried out during 2021. The main objective has been focused on in discovering the position of these parties regarding the vaccination process against the coronavirus and the use of biased strategies or frames linked to misinformation. Methodology: (N=1050) Instagram posts have been analyzed using visual content analysis. The results show that the European far-right parties studied have not used their Instagram accounts to spread health strategies to alleviate the effects of COVID-19. Results: The contents disseminated have turned out to be individualistic and consistent with the ideals of each party. Except for specific exceptions, in general all the parties have shown a neutral position without being very explicit in their positions. Discussion: What these findings reveal is an inclination not to make decisive speeches that could make them lose voters, despite maintaining a critical position that pretends to be an alternative to the official one. Conclusions: Their main speeches allude to the lack of individual freedom, the voluntariness in the administration of the dose, the rejection of vaccination of children and the denial of the COVID passport.

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Author Biographies

Sebastián Sánchez-Castillo, Universidad de Valencia

- Profesor Titular de Universidad

- Área de Comunicación Audiovisual.

- Departamento de Teoría de los Lenguajes y Ciencias de la Comunicaci´ón

- Universidad de Valencia

Carlos López-Olano, Universidad de Valencia- Facultad de Filología

Degree in Literature and Audiovisual Communication, and PhD (Extraordinary Award) from the University of Valencia. Since 1998 he has been a professor of Audiovisual Communication at the UV. He has also taught in different degrees and postgraduate courses at Universities such as Jaume I de Castellón (UJI), Cardenal Herrera (CEU), Valencian International University (VIU) or the University of Virginia (USA). He has also been a researcher and visiting professor at the Univ. of Bologna, Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Roehampton in London and Glasgow (UK). He has worked as a journalist for 25 years in different media, such as Antena 3 Televisión, Canal 9 or À Punt. His research focuses on the new possibilities opened up by multiplatform and transmedia technologies for public RTV.

Àlvar Peris-Blanes, - Universidad de Valencia- Facultad de Filología

PHD in Media Studies from the University of Valencia, where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theory of Languages and Communication Sciences. His interests are focused on the analysis of media content as well as the media construction of identities. In recent years, he has focused on delving into the presence of politicians in television "infotainment" programs. He is the author of numerous scientific papers published in academic journals, monographs and collective books on communication, Cultural Studies and history. He has been a visiting professor at universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. He participates in various research projects and is a member of the Mediaflows and CONTD (Contents for Digital Television) R&D groups.

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