Recent research explores the high proliferation of conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccination, and their potential effects within digital media environments. By means of a 2 × 2 experimental design (N = 945) conducted in Romania, we explore whether exposure to media messages promoting conspiracy theories about vaccination versus media messages debunking such conspiracy narratives could influence people’s intention to either support or argue against vaccination in front of their friends and family (interpersonal influence). We also analyze the moderation effects of education and critical thinking. Main results show that both conspiracy and counter-conspiracy media content about vaccination negatively affect people’s willingness to discuss the topic with others, which offers support for a silencing effect. Education and critical thinking moderate the main effects, but only to some extent and in certain experimental conditions.

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与疫苗有关的阴谋论和反阴谋论。沉默效应

最近的研究探讨了关于 COVID-19 疫苗接种的阴谋论的高度扩散，以及它们在数字媒体环境中的潜在影响。通过在罗马尼亚进行的 2 × 2 实验设计 (N = 945)，我们探索接触宣传疫苗接种阴谋论的媒体信息与揭穿此类阴谋论的媒体信息是否会影响人们支持或反对接种疫苗的意图他们的朋友和家人（人际影响）。我们还分析了教育和批判性思维的调节作用。主要结果表明，关于疫苗接种的阴谋和反阴谋媒体内容都会对人们与他人讨论该话题的意愿产生负面影响，这为沉默效应提供了支持。