Conspiracy theories have been rising in prominence and popularity for years, yet recent global lockdowns have added fuel to the fire of ‘fake news’ and ‘deep state’ accusations.
Growing numbers of people have been exposed to the many and varied theories that seek to offer answers to the complex questions facing us every day. In the UK, theories about Covid-19 have been particularly popular. In a survey carried out in May, 30% of Brits believed the virus had been created in a lab, while 8% thought it was the result of 5G networks, and 7% questioned whether it was real at all.
A study in 2018 revealed that 60% of people living in the UK supported at least one conspiracy theory regarding how the government is run, and the information it makes available. In the US, it is thought that around 50% of Americans believe in a conspiracy theory, a figure that includes the president himself. From questioning the legitimacy of President Obama’s birth certificate to accusing a 75-year-old Black Lives Matter protester of being an agent for Antifa, the timeline of Trump’s presidency has been marked by conspiracy. Members of the infamous far-right conspiracy group QAnon often attend Trump rallies, despite being seen by many as a destructive force on US democracy and political thought.
As coronavirus continues to spread, the contagion of misinformation similarly grows. With lockdown easing, many scientists are wary of the power of conspiracy theories in encouraging people to disregard safety measures necessary to stop the rapid re-emergence of Covid-19.
Writer: Madeleine Anderson
Artwork: Zara Masood
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