The Truth of Conspiracy
PIPER JONES | NOV. 10, 2021 | OPINIONS
As members of a generation raised by the internet, my peers and I are well aware of the captivating essence of platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. I often find myself in an endless loop of scrolling, during which I am introduced to atypical subject matters. One topic, conspiracy theories, has been around since the internet’s origins. These range from the seemingly ineffectual speculations about the moon landing to theories that arouse extreme violence, such as QAnon.
Conspiracy theories surpass healthy skepticism and plunge full-force into misinformation, alleging a secret is being withheld from the public which can explain a specific event. The danger arises in the ability of conspiracies to weaponize the fear, lack of
education, or desire for certainty of a mass audience. It is easy to underestimate their nonsensical claims. However, conspiracy theories have been inspiring disorder as far back as the Ancient Roman Empire.
Nero, the emperor of Rome during the Great Fire of 64 A.D, incited a wave of Christian persecutions when he blamed the group for the disaster. These consequences confirm that conspiracies are more influential than simple hearsay.
Today, social media provides an alternate platform for theories to manifest. Replacing word of mouth, all it takes is a captivating graphic and academically-inspired phrasing to make a cause appear legitimate.
The most recent theory to gain online acclaim is the Anti-Vaccination Movement: several campaigns claiming vaccines have dangerous side effects. On Facebook and YouTube, “anti-vaccination propaganda can outperform fact-based information,” according to a study by The Guardian. Proposed side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, including autism, loss of fertility, altered DNA, and magnetized blood, are examples of this misinformation. In fact, the Pfizer vaccine’s Food and Drug Administration approval in August of 2021 debunks these claims. However, 45.6% of United States citizens remain unvaccinated, despite the free cost and 90% effectiveness against the original strain of the virus, according to the Center for Disease Control. This illustrates the extent to which conspiracy theories permeate in the public consciousness and influence decisions. As death tolls rise, it becomes increasingly obvious how harmful conspiracies truly are. Thus, the influence of conspiracies must be counteracted.
“Conspiracy theorists are remarkably resistant to attempts at debunking their beliefs,” said Geoff Dancy, a professor at Tulane University. He proposes asking why a conspirator holds certain beliefs, a method that urges them to see the errors in their own thinking. This, he says, could help limit the spread of harmful, false information. A more effective method, even, is warning others about the methods used by conspirators to attract supporters, equipping them to recognize and avoid misinformation.
Though challenging, it is important to utilize your own sphere of influence to promote the consumption of reliable media. Allowing conspiracy theories to uncontrollably spread will undeniably lead to division, and the ensuing partisanship inhibits the passing of effective legislation. Well-proven issues in need of immediate action are neglected, and misinformation is only strengthening this broken system.