Herd immunity means only a large-enough majority needs inoculation against misinformation

Evidence

Although the concept of a psychological vaccine is certainly valuable at the individual level, when we push the analogy to its logical conclusion, it becomes clear that the most important implication of inoculation theory is the possibility of psychological herd immunity. William J. McGuire’s initial ideas concerned achieving inoculation at the level of individual attitudes, but we can think of immunity at the group-level too, especially in online networks. If enough people are vaccinated in an (online) community, then the misinformation virus no longer has a chance to spread. Of course, we are never going to immunize everyone against all kinds of misinformation indefinitely. But the beauty of herd immunity is that not everyone needs to be vaccinated – just a large enough majority. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 835

Categorization

• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source
• XREF: connects to: Pre-exposing people to weakened persuasive attacks cultivates mental resistance against later misinformation. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 633; Active game inoculation sustains effects a week while passive infographic gains fade — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 868; Sustained misinformation immunity requires periodic booster reminders — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 814 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Inoculation can spread socially like herd immunity against misinformation #corroborates (0.90) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 989
• Knowing the facts provides no strategy when opponents are immune to evidence #complicates (0.80) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 67
• Some conspiracy theories may strengthen political immune systems #qualifies (0.75) — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 824
• Bare-assertion conspiracism demands no errant facts to explain #qualifies (0.75) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 63