How did conspiracy theories about COVID-19 get so out of control?

These are just some of the conspiracy theories that began to circulate in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, as of June 2020, a Pew Research Center survey found that 71 percent of Americans had heard a common theory—that powerful actors deliberately engineered the outbreak—and 25 percent of respondents said they believed it was “ definitely’ or ‘probably’. true.

How did conspiracy theories about COVID-19 spread so far and why do so many people believe them? In a new paper, Cynthia Wang, clinical professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School, attempts to answer these complex questions. This is not her first attack in this area. Wang has spent years studying conspiracy theories and why some people believe them more than others.

Her latest study is a review of existing research on conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and conspiracy thinking in general. Using this body of work, Wang and her co-authors—Benjamin J. Dow of Washington University in St. Louis, Amber L. Johnson of the University of Maryland, Jennifer Whitson of UCLA, and Tanya Menon of Ohio State University— propose a framework for how COVID-19 conspiracy theories spread and evaluate methods to prevent their spread.

Anyone who has logged into Facebook recently will not be surprised to learn that researchers believe social media has played a substantial role in the rise of COVID-19 conspiracies. They argue that the social disconnect caused by the quarantine has driven people online, where platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have served them a steady diet of misinformation. This resulted in the creation of conspiracy-oriented digital communities that gradually replaced real-life relationships.

It wasn’t meant to be. The word “conspiracy,” the researchers note at the end of the paper, literally means “to breathe together.” Their study, they write, “demonstrates the ability of social media to focus collective breathing in a uniquely powerful way. …The crucial question is whether (and how) social media could focus our collective breathing in more productive ways.”

Looking for connection in a time of isolation

Even before the advent of COVID-19, American culture provided an ideal breeding ground for conspiracy theories. Off-the-charts partisanship and political division “have made it so difficult to be receptive to consuming information from the other side,” Wang says, creating extremism, information chambers, and an “us vs. them” mentality—all factors that can makes conspiracy theories gullible.

Then came the virus. People could not see their loved ones, go to work, pursue hobbies or travel. For Wang, it was no wonder that so many Americans turned to elaborate tales of shadowy figures to cope with the upheaval in their lives.

“A long line of work has shown that when people are in situations where they have no control, they are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories,” he says. And living through the pandemic was the ultimate loss of control.

As many others were removed, the world went online. Global internet activity increased 25 percent in mid-March 2020, when much of the world went into lockdown. The internet served social and entertainment needs, but also informational ones: without office chats or impromptu chats with friends, “where do we go for information? We connect,” says Wang.

How social media is accelerating conspiracy theories

The research reviewed by Wang and her colleagues shows that the current social media environment allows misinformation to survive and thrive. This, the team argues, is a major contributor to the COVID-19 conspiracy problem we see today.

Social media algorithms deserve a share of the blame for (unintentionally) encouraging faith to conspiracy theories. When a user clicks on a conspiracy-oriented post, the algorithm delivers similar posts, often containing even more false information. “This perpetuates the cycle,” says Wang.

Fake posts spread as fast as real ones, studies show — and sometimes even faster. According a 2018 study, the top one percent of fake posts reach 100,000 users, while accurate posts rarely break 1,000. Social media influencers can also help conspiracy theories reach large audiences. a study was found that 65 percent of social media posts containing vaccine misinformation could be traced to just 12 influencers.

bot accounts, some of which are operated by nation state agencies with their own agendas, they add even more fuel to the fire. “Robots attract public attention without public awareness,” says Wang. “And they are the ones who publish the most grandiose conspiracy theories.”

Finding community through conspiracy

Studies show that once people fall under the spell of conspiracy theories, it is extremely difficult to disabuse them. Here, again, social media plays a key role, Wang and her colleagues point out.

Online communities focused on conspiracy theories provide constant reinforcement for outlandish beliefs in the form of clicks, likes, and shares. (Actually, there is some elements (that in some digital circles, not sharing misinformation is socially punished.) Such groups are also easily discoverable thanks to hashtags, Facebook groups, and simple Google searches.

“Online, we have so many opportunities to look for things that support our case. It just does [these beliefs] incredibly sticky and difficult to change,” explains Wang.

Fueled by the Internet, believers quickly develop their own language (i.e. “plandemic”) and symbols, resulting in a sense of belonging and social identity, the reviewed studies show. Often, the feeling of unity against a common enemy reinforces beliefs and prejudices that people already have: talk of the “Wuhan virus” and “Kung flu” has given new impetus to pre-existing anti-Asian prejudice. leading to violence and harassment in the real world.

Once people fall under the spell of conspiracy theories, it is difficult to challenge or refute their views offering accurate information. Indeed, some conspiracy theorists exhibit a “backfire effect”: when given information that challenges their beliefs, they become even more convinced.

Prevention is the best cure for misinformation

Because conspiratorial thinking is so persistent, prevention is the best solution, researchers believe. But how to prevent the spread of conspiracy theories is a hotly contested issue.

One option is for social media platforms to simply ban conspiracy-related content. Research has shown This tactic is effective in slowing the spread of conspiracy theories, but may not completely eliminate exposure to them. Content restriction is also a blunt instrument and a tool that social media companies understandably feel reluctant to implement.

Another, less drastic tactic is “priming” — essentially, trying to inoculate people against misinformation in a variety of ways: increasing scientific literacy, exposing people to accurate information before they see conspiracy theoriesand awareness of the persuasive tactics used by conspiracy theorists. “These types of interventions seem to work better than trying to change people’s minds afterward,” says Wang.

Combating loneliness and social disconnection may also reduce the appeal of conspiracy theories in the first place. The best option, of course, may be to simply go offline and offline. But even when that’s not possible, researchers note that tools like Zoom and Skype can help people maintain existing bonds. The rise of affordable teletherapy options can also increase access to mental health services, helping people combat loneliness and stress.

Talking to friends and family about conspiracy theories

For anyone who has a friend or loved one who believes in conspiracy theories about COVID-19, Wang suggests keeping the lines of communication open. Offline chat is the best. Ongoing conversations on Facebook lack “a relational element,” says Wang, and rarely change anyone’s mind.

Try to be non-judgmental and don’t dismiss the believer or their ideas as stupid. “Conspiracy theories are actually quite complicated, so that probably means these people have put a lot of thought into it,” he says. Ask calm but probing questions that encourage deeper reflection (“Can you tell me more about why you think this?”) and look for points of agreement in your worldviews where you can.

It’s also okay to admit defeat. You may reach a point where you “just have to agree to disagree,” says Wang. “Sometimes, beliefs are so ingrained that there’s not much you can do about it.”

Wang sees reason for hope if vaccination rates increase and the spread of the virus is contained. “People will feel more in control—and then, hopefully, a lot of the conspiracy theories will start to decline,” says Wang. “That’s the optimistic part of me.”