Wild notions are getting popular..at least in theory

A STUDY by academics at Trinity College has found that anti-5G, anti-vax and flat-earth conspiracy theorists are not isolated loners, but are increasingly gathering strength due to the groups they are forming.

- BY OWEN CONLON

Researchers joined with their counterparts at the University of Bath in England and tracked people on the edge of becoming conspiracy theorists for five years to understand how they became involved in fringe ideas.

The researchers also joined closed groups in online social networks, and attended public meetings, conferences and protests.

In 2017 and 2018, they first got in contact with communities promoting a variety of conspiracy theories.

These included anti-5G narratives, flat-earth ideas, alternative health and vaccine hesitancy and New Age spirituality.

During the second stage of data collection (2018-2022), the researchers attended various events organised by conspiracy theorists, including public meetings, conferences and protests at locations in the south of England and south Wales.

After carrying out 32 interviews with 23 participants, they identified three main stages to believing in conspiracy theories.

Firstly, all of the subjects had an experience which had led them to begin questioning otherwise trusted organisations.