Conspiracy Theories : the casualties

Conspiracy theories ripped through the internet this year, destroying relationships and endangering lives.

The flurry of online falsehoods about coronavirus began as soon as the pandemic hit.

Misleading pictures suggesting tanks were rolling down village streets

and lists of false diagnostic tips were frantically forwarded on WhatsApp.

False claims about 5G technology inspired arsons attacks on phone masts and assaults on telecommunications workers.

mass poisonings and overdoses of hydroxychloroquine were catalogued -

a drug that world leaders like Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro falsely claimed cures or prevents Covid-19.

What took place were conspiracy theories - pushed by highly motivated individuals.

Newly-emerged influencers gained huge online followings by promoting baseless claims about the pandemic.

That includes denying the virus existed or suggesting the outbreak was planned

and managed as some sort of sinister plot.

Their theories were often blatantly inconsistent -

for instance, accusing authorities of incompetence in one breath,

and in the next alleging they managed legendary logistical feats.

Psychologists, experts and even people who used to believe the Earth was flat

about how to repair relationships ravaged by cult-like online conspiracies.

"There is no silver bullet, there is no argument you can present to someone… that will change their mind,"

explains psychologist Jovan Byford.

"The point is to infuse their thinking with counter arguments

so the next time they approach a conspiracy theory in a different way."

Mapoui, our resident poster is our Forum culprit..

Creating a Covid page with LINKS upon LINKS of Falsehoods

AND actually believes the Garbage !

The vaccine lies ahead

The embers of 2020's blaze of bad viral information are still glowing as we head into 2021.

People around the world are starting to receive coronavirus vaccines -

and conspiracy theorists will be focusing on this in the months ahead.

Mapoui is addicted to the new ALLERGIES ...

DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM OF these people !

There is a 40 page thread on this Forum :

That would leave educated viewers SHAKING their Heads....

Brian and Erin both came across conspiracy theories on Facebook

He's a 46-year old taxi driver from Florida who was interviewed in May.

Because of posts he had seen on Facebook, he believed a variety of false claims:

that coronavirus was not real, not serious, or somehow linked to 5G technology.

He didn't wear a mask or worry too much about social distancing.

But then Brian and his wife Erin fell seriously ill with Covid-19 and ended up in hospital.

As his wife remained in a critical condition, he regretted not trusting expert advice.

"We just can't be playing around anymore," he lamented. "This thing is real."

In August, Erin died due to heart complications linked to the virus.

He's now being careful about following health advice - and keeping his online habits in check.

"We just can't be playing around anymore," he lamented. "This thing is real."

Hopefully, he survives~