In addition to the sociological angle, which may be the primary driver of participation, I suspect there's a large "sense of agency" angle to conspiracy theories. Outside of the small things you...
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In addition to the sociological angle, which may be the primary driver of participation, I suspect there's a large "sense of agency" angle to conspiracy theories. Outside of the small things you can control, it's rare to feel a sense of progress in the modern world. Given the availability of global information you'll rarely get to see something you're involved with on the news. There are too many political actors out there and the ones that are currently installed have connections, knowledge, and skills that you don't. Competing on their terms is a losing battle. But if you create an alternate reality with your community you can create an entire world in which only your in group knows the rules. If your in group grows large enough you can end up interacting with the real world in ways that look like victories. In reality those victories are clashes caused by a lack of shared understanding.
It's not unlike a "metaverse". Too poor to purchase land? Create a digital copy of the Earth and buy some land there for cheap with the hope that eventually your purchase means something to others.
Over five years, we sought out and got to know people on the cusp of becoming conspiracy theorists. And the results of our new study show that a sense of community activism is attracting people to these ideas.
Indeed, contrary to the stereotype of isolated keyboard warriors who have gone down the rabbit hole, conspiracy theorists are becoming organized, recruiting supporters, picketing vaccination centers and vandalizing telecommunication and traffic infrastructures.
Our research examined the growing interest in conspiracy theories and how associated activism emerges. Immersive research with conspiracy theorists is rare. But revealing our status as researchers actually allowed us to build relationships with people, who shared insights into what motivates their involvement.
In particular, we spoke to people about conspiracy theories concerning 5G technology, COVID-19, 15-minute cities and low-traffic neighborhoods. We also took part in online discussions and traveled the UK to sit in on public meetings and conferences. Ultimately, our insights revealed how people tend to follow a pathway from initial interest, to community engagement and potentially activism.
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People rarely experience their awakening in isolation. In online group chats, people discover others with similar problems. In public meetings, beliefs in various theories are boosted by interactions where people discuss their suspicions over who is to blame for particular issues. In the process, these groups feed off their common emotions, building an atmosphere of energy and excitement.
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The people we spoke to expressed surprise at the social connections they had found through these communities. As one participant put it, "there's a lot of support out there for people who are doing their own research… there is always someone wanting to hear more, building on the work of others, giving each other support. There's a real buzz in this community."
In addition to the sociological angle, which may be the primary driver of participation, I suspect there's a large "sense of agency" angle to conspiracy theories. Outside of the small things you can control, it's rare to feel a sense of progress in the modern world. Given the availability of global information you'll rarely get to see something you're involved with on the news. There are too many political actors out there and the ones that are currently installed have connections, knowledge, and skills that you don't. Competing on their terms is a losing battle. But if you create an alternate reality with your community you can create an entire world in which only your in group knows the rules. If your in group grows large enough you can end up interacting with the real world in ways that look like victories. In reality those victories are clashes caused by a lack of shared understanding.
It's not unlike a "metaverse". Too poor to purchase land? Create a digital copy of the Earth and buy some land there for cheap with the hope that eventually your purchase means something to others.
From the article:
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