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News Literacy

Conspiracy Theories

People believe all sorts of things that are not true, including conspiracy theories. These are explanations for events or situations as the result of the secret actions of a small but powerful group. Scroll through the slides below to explore common conspiracy theories and why they aren’t true!

What is a Conspiracy Theory? A conspiracy theory is a belief that an event is secretly controlled by powerful forces with bad intentions. Why do people believe them? 1. They think the theories provide answers in times of uncertainty. 2. They get a sense of belonging from a conspiracy group, and feel special knowing “secret" information. 3. They believe they see patterns in random events that help them make sense of a confusing world. DID YOU KNOW? Half of the American public consistently endorses at least one conspiracy theory. (Source: Oliver & Wood, 2014)
False Conspiracy Theory: THE MOON LANDING WAS FAKE On July 20, 1969, American astronauts became the first humans ever to land on the moon, and one of them, Neil Armstrong, became the first person to walk on the moon. But more than 50 years later, the conspiracy theory continues that the landing was staged by NASA and the CIA has protected this secret. A common question by conspiracists is: Why does the flag appear to be moving when there is no wind on the moon? FACTUAL ANSWER: The flag isn't flying in the wind. NASA put a horizontal bar in the flag so it would extend nicely for the photo.
Are conspiracy theories more common now? Conspiracy theories have been around a long time, and in all human societies. But social media and online news sources have increased the flow of ideas and competing information. The internet has increased the ability of conspiracists to come together and share their beliefs. It has also made it easier for people to find others online who agree with them.
Why are conspiracy theories persistent? It is hard to disprove a conspiracy theory because they rely on people’s fears, not on facts. Just because something can’t be disproved doesn’t mean it is true! Because of the confirmation bias, people seek information that they already believe. They tend to ignore information that opposes their existing ideas. Sources: UNESCO - #ThinkBeforeSharing; News Literacy Project
What to do when you encounter a conspiracy theory online? On SOCIAL MEDIA: Comment with verified information, such as from fact-checking websites. DO NOT share the post. On News and Information Outlets: Contact the publisher or editor-in-chief (usually listed in the “About" section) of the site. DO NOT share the material. On websites and blogs: Contact the author or the web manager with verified information and ask them to make corrections. DO NOT share the website or blog post. Source: UNESCO - #ThinkBeforeSharing
False Conspiracy Theory: The Government Killed JFK? There are a number of conspiracy theories about the Nov. 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. About 60% of Americans believe that more than one person was involved in Kennedy's death. (Source: Gallup, 2013; Enten, 2017) FACTUAL ANSWER: Rigorous investigations have found that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone when he shot the president.
False Conspiracy Theory: The world is flat. The Flat Earth Society has global membership, and it’s growing, in part because of YouTube videos supporting the conspiracy. Some people believe the myth that the world is flat and not moving rather than being a rotating sphere, as longtime science indicates. CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION: If the earth is flat, why do the sun, moon and stars appear to rise and set?
False Conspiracy Theory: The COVID-19 Vaccine Has a 5G Chip Inside. Many conspiracy theories regarding the COVID-19 vaccine medication have emerged. One of the most extreme is that the vaccine contains a microscopic 5G chip. It does not. For starters, chips are not small enough to fit through a hypodermic needle. And, the virus is rampant in countries with no 5G towers. But that did not stop some people in Europe from setting fire to 5G cell towers.
Who is harmed by a conspiracy theory? Everyone! Conspiracy theories often target a group seen as the enemy behind a real or imagined threat. Most people genuinely believe conspiracy theories. Some people know they are fake but spread them to cause harm.  Conspiracy theories can lead to discrimination and hate crimes. Conspiracy theories spread distrust of public institutions, which are falsely accused of being part of a secret plan. They also spread mistrust in science and medicine, which can have serious health outcomes. (Source: UNESCO - #ThinkBeforeSharing)
Conspiracy theories have some things in common: Unfairly placing blame on people and groups. A supposedly secret plot. “Evidence” that seems to support the theory. A group of conspirators. The false notion that nothing is coincidence and everything is part of a master plan. Division of the world into good and bad. Source: UNESCO - #ThinkBeforeSharing
Can you answer these 3 conspiracy theory questions? 1. Which of the false conspiracies listed here is the most convincing to you? Why? 2. Who is harmed by conspiracy theories? 3. What is one thing you should definitely not do when you find a conspiracy theory online?
How to respond to a conspiracy theory PREBUNKING: acts as a prevention to warn people to look out for conspiracies. Encourage someone to not think with “their gut” but rationally. Emphasize questioning and fact checking. Alert people about the falsehoods behind the most common conspiracy theories. Remind people of the key traits of conspiratorial thinking – suspicion of official accounts, resistance to contrary evidence, reinterpreting random events as part of a broader pattern. DEBUNKING: happens once someone has been exposed to a conspiracy theory. Do: Focus on the facts you want to communicate, not the myth you want to debunk. Choose your target – the author, source or argument behind the conspiracy theory. Always state clearly that the information is wrong, before quoting a conspiracy theory. Provide a fact-based alternative explanation. If possible, use visual aids to back your argument. Dont: Focus on the conspiracy theory because doing so reinforces it. Overwhelm with information. Source: UNESCO - #ThinkBeforeSharing
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