When it comes to spreading disinformation about climate change or the risks of smoking, I can clearly see how it protects economic interests (e.g. the value of the assets of the fossil fuel industry or the tobacco industry). I therefore understand that these lies are (have been) regularly pushed by people who do not necessarily believe in them.
But what are the strategic considerations behind the active spread of anti-vax theories? Who gains from this? Is it just an effective topic to rile up a political base? Because it hits people right in the feels? Is it just a way to bring people together on one topic, in order to use that political base for other purposes?
Or is anti-vax disinformation really only pushed by people who believe it?
Usually, a lot of people who are anti-vaxx are selling something as well, like books or food supplements.
Politically, if people are mistrustful of medicine, they’ll be more likely to be mistrustful of government action in general.
So that could be one explanation why it tends to be boosted by people who have an interest in a weak government.
It is also a reason why Democrats have become a lot more hostile to anti-vaxx views.
If you think about it, it’s another wedge issue that’s given enough air time to keep people rabbling amongst themselves. Divide and conquer and all that. Each party wants to maintain their grip on power, and nothing does the job better like a feeling of moral superiority.