Conspiracy theories and their spread during the coronavirus crisis

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Conspiracy theories and their spread during the coronavirus crisis

The coronavirus crisis has given rise to a number of conspiracy theories. This article explains how they work, how they spread on social media, and how to engage with conspiracy theorists.

An article by Meike Fenz & Josephine Franz

Thursday, 25 June 2020

TL;DR

Conspiracy theories are nothing new, and they always follow the same patterns
The coronavirus crisis has given rise to new theories and attracted many new supporters (both online and offline)
Social media platforms generally do their best to avoid promoting this sort of content, which is why such material is shared via Telegram, for example
We need to keep asking and discussing how the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories can be curbed
Politicians, internet companies and society as a whole must seek and implement solutions

The coronavirus crisis is currently affecting all our lives on various levels: working life, schools and universities are subject to restrictions; private life and leisure activities are not taking place as usual; and everyday life is being profoundly affected. In order to keep track of all this, it is important to stay regularly informed and follow current developments.
Over the past few weeks, it has become clear that not everyone trusts the mainstream media and is seeking alternative explanations for the current situation. This has led to the emergence of some conspiracy theories that attempt to pinpoint the origins of the outbreak and suggest a higher purpose behind the coronavirus. These theories spread extremely quickly via social media and have gained some followers – some of whom are prominent figures. This article examines current conspiracy theories and why they have become so popular. Before that, however, here is a brief insight into how they work and why they are created.

How do conspiracy theories work?

Conspiracy theories always operate according to the same mechanisms: the starting point of every conspiracy theory is a secret society accused of malicious intentions. This forms the central thesis underpinning the conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories are often supported by facts and figures that are easy to verify. The authors of the theory gather everything that supports this central thesis, whilst anything that contradicts it is simply ignored. Often, the conclusions drawn from all the figures and data are incorrect. All in all, a conspiracy theory is a mixture of a few verifiable facts and many fabricated assertions and stories, from which new contexts are constructed.

Furthermore, scientist Dr Katrin Götz-Votteler explains in a video by Puls-Reportage that conspiracy theories are usually based on a very basic explanation, a narrative: this narrative is ‘us against them’. ‘We’ are always the small, the weak and also the good. ‘The others’ are the bad, the influential, the powerful. At the same time, fundamental psychological mechanisms come into play in conspiracy theories: people derive pleasure from good stories and solving puzzles, and have a desire for self-knowledge (see Raab, Carbon, Muth (2018): XIX; Puls Reportage (2020)).

The reason why the coronavirus crisis lends itself perfectly to conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon: they have existed since the dawn of human civilisation. Well-known examples of conspiracy theories include those that emerged in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the chemtrail theory and the flat Earth theory. Conspiracy theories are usually a reaction to a specific situation that has just occurred or is unfolding. For many people, this is often associated with a sense of threat or uncertainty. The coronavirus crisis is a perfect context for a conspiracy theory to emerge because many people are currently worried about their health, their jobs or their own financial situation. Furthermore, there is little reliable information about the coronavirus (see Raab, Carbon, Muth (2018): XIX; Puls Reportage (2020)).

Conspiracy theories during the coronavirus crisis

Although there are a few individuals who have made a name for themselves by spreading various conspiracy theories, the real originators of these theories are a small number of medical professionals, scientists and journalists who disseminate them via YouTube. In their videos, for example, they challenge the findings of the Robert Koch Institute or other established scientists. As we have already explained, these theories always revolve around a supposed ‘shadowy elite’, the political system or other malevolent forces. Conspiracy theorists speak of a ‘coronavirus dictatorship’ or the ‘paternalism of the state’. At the same time, they complain about censorship, even at large-scale demonstrations.

Below, three common conspiracy theories relating to the coronavirus will be outlined and explained very briefly. No arguments against these theories will be presented here, as other sources have already done so extensively. These can be found at the end of this blog post in the list of references.
The first theory is that the virus was created by scientists in either Wuhan, the USA or Georgia. The scientists’ intention is to use it as a biological weapon. The second theory is expressed in many different ways. However, they all centre on Bill Gates and his intention to impose compulsory vaccination on the population. Finally, there is the theory that 5G is helping the virus to spread via mobile phone masts. Because of this theory, mobile phone masts have been destroyed and cut down, meaning that streets have, for example, become inaccessible to emergency vehicles.

The consequences of the growing number of theories and theorists are not confined to social media but are also having an impact on daily life. So-called ‘hygiene demonstrations’ have brought large numbers of people onto the streets – including conspiracy theorists, but also people harbouring resentment or criticism of the coronavirus measures or the media. Furthermore, a new party called ‘Widerstand2020’ has been founded. Although, by definition, it is not a genuine political party due to its lack of a political agenda, “Widerstand2020” brings together opponents of science, conspiracy theorists, right-wing populists and left-wing anti-vaccination activists, who may be drawn together as protest voters.

Fake news and conspiracy theories on social media

The internet, social media and search engines provide an ideal breeding ground for conspiracy theories and their dissemination. Even though social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram attempt to limit the visibility of hoaxes, this does not always work equally well.

YouTube’s algorithm, for example, was designed to maximise watch time and has consequently suggested increasingly extreme videos – such as those promoting conspiracy theories. However, after making a few adjustments to the algorithm, they managed to resolve this issue almost entirely. On other platforms such as Twitter, some content is initially flagged as ‘untrustworthy’, but is not deleted immediately. Consequently, a new platform is taking centre stage: Telegram. The messaging app hardly ever checks or restricts any content and has long been regarded as a popular means of communication for the New Right and other extremist groups. Videos are posted on YouTube, but discussed and shared in Telegram groups with up to 200,000 members, founded by well-known conspiracy theorists such as Attila Hildmann, Oliver Janich, Eva Hermann and Xavier Naidoo. The rise in the number of subscribers to such groups, as shown in a study by Der Spiegel, supports this theory.

To make matters worse, users find themselves trapped in their own personal filter bubbles, which are determined by the algorithms of the major internet companies (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Google). Users are constantly being shown similar posts. So if a user reads, likes or even shares an article describing a conspiracy theory today, there is a high risk that they will continue to see similar posts in their feed.

Not a new debate

A few years ago, the ‘mainstream media’ were still the opinion-makers; reporting was in the hands of professional journalists, and editors determined the selection of topics. Today, every internet user can create content and disseminate their views across various channels without having to check the facts. We should therefore continue to ask how the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories can be curbed. This debate has been going on for a long time, and it always revolves around the central issues: on the one hand, freedom of speech must be preserved; on the other, those who spread false information must be held to account. This is a fine line that is not easy to tread, and it is the duty of politicians and internet companies to seek and implement solutions. Initial efforts and further discussions are already taking place, prompted by the coronavirus crisis. The European Union also took measures ahead of the 2019 European elections to combat disinformation online.

How to talk to conspiracy theorists

Ultimately, the question remains as to how to talk to people who firmly believe in conspiracy theories, and whether it is even worth trying. Firstly, it should be noted that there is no ‘silver bullet’ that will immediately convince conspiracy theorists. However, there are a few approaches that can improve communication.
It is important to raise awareness of who and which sources one trusts, and from which sources the other person has obtained their information. Questioning the sources might be a good idea, provided it does not backfire. This is because people are likely to believe in their arguments and sources even more strongly when they are questioned and criticised.
All in all, the most important tip on how to talk to conspiracy theorists is to treat them as equals and not to ridicule their arguments. Otherwise, the backfire effect will certainly occur.

Conspiracy theories and their spread during the coronavirus crisis

TL;DR

How do conspiracy theories work?

The reason why the coronavirus crisis lends itself perfectly to conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories during the coronavirus crisis

Fake news and conspiracy theories on social media

Not a new debate

How to talk to conspiracy theorists

Further reading and recommendations: