Media Literacy: Conspiracy Theories — What's Driving Them? • L I B R A R Y

conspiracy theories - Mormon Women for Ethical Government

At a time of heated political division, a global pandemic, social upheaval, and worldwide unrest, conspiracy theories are quickly spreading throughout social media, radio, and other traditional media platforms.

Unfortunately, conspiracy theories are not innocuous. Anyone can be susceptible to them; no demographic is immune. And they cause people to act in ways that result in direct harm to individuals and institutions. As we wrote in a previous educational piece about addressing misinformation: “False information perpetuates injustice and division, and allowing such information to spread can cause people to become distrustful of any information and sink into cynicism and apathy. People act based on the information they receive, and actions based on false information can have serious negative consequences.”

So why are we seeing so many conspiracy theories lately? How can we identify what is a conspiracy theory versus what is true? And how do we address those who subscribe to conspiracy theories?

First, know that belief in conspiracy theories is a result of normal human tendencies. People are driven to conspiracy theories as a way to:

cope with feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability,
explain events that are unlikely or do not have clear explanations,
maintain a positive image of themselves or their social groups,
protect valued personal beliefs,
easily explain complicated issues that require careful research,
dispute mainstream politics, and
counteract feelings of disempowerment, among other reasons.

It makes sense that during a global pandemic, when people are turning to social media and other platforms to stay connected, conspiracy theories are spreading. They help people try to make sense of the world and the personal upheaval they are experiencing.

Second, conspiracies can be real, and conspiracy theories often contain some truth, making it frustratingly difficult to sift out the facts. However, the thought processes that uncover conspiracies are different from those that drive conspiracy theories, according to the Conspiracy Theory Handbook.

Real conspiracies are discovered through conventional thinking, which includes healthy skepticism of official accounts, careful consideration of available evidence, and a commitment to internal consistency. We uncover actual conspiracies through internal industry documents, government investigations, or whistleblowers.
Conspiracy theories, on the other hand, are driven by conspiratorial thinking characterized by inconsistency, being hyper-skeptical of all information that does not fit the theory, and over-interpreting evidence that supports a preferred theory. Conspiracies tend to persist for a long time, even when there is no decisive evidence for them. They often do not stand up to careful examination.

When trying to distinguish between a real conspiracy and a conspiracy theory, ask:

What evidence is there to connect these people and events?
Who is spreading this conspiracy theory, and for what purpose?
Is it reasonable that those alleged to be involved would be able to accomplish what they are accused of doing?
How many people would have to keep quiet for this to be happening?
What are the alternative explanations, and are they being acknowledged or considered?

Third, knowing that anyone can be susceptible to belief in a conspiracy theory, it is important to approach people who spread conspiracy theories with respect, no matter what. We must “choose love instead of hate” and also have “great tolerance for people and none for injustice.”

Consider reaching out to the person via personal message or text first. Make sure your intent is not to cause public embarrassment.
Show empathy for the feelings that may be driving their belief in the conspiracy theory.
Start from a place of agreement. There is likely a small amount of truth in every conspiracy theory. From there, focus on what is truthful instead of repeating the misinformation.
If a person is resistant to facts, ask more questions to understand their beliefs. Know that not everyone will change their mind, no matter what facts you provide.
If the discussion becomes too heated or difficult, stop.

For more suggestions, read our educational post on addressing disinformation.

Healthy skepticism is a good thing. But news consumers should be careful to weigh credible evidence when considering conspiracy theories. A Pew Research Center survey showed that more people now get their political news from social media than from cable TV, local TV, radio, or print. However, those who rely on social media as a news source also tend to have much more exposure to conspiracy theories. Turning to reliable news sources by utilizing sites like Ad Fontes Media or AllSides.com can help consumers avoid conspiracy theories and make informed decisions for the good of our society and our government.