The Impact of Conspiracy Theories: At Home and Online

From “Pizzagate” in 2016 to recent claims of the government controlling the weather in the wake of Hurricane Helene, conspiracy theories have shown they have the power to spread online in wide-reaching and devastating ways. How and why do conspiracy theories gain traction? How are news and social media platforms trying to curb the proliferation of these falsehoods? What is the impact of conspiracy theories on individuals and their loved ones, and what makes us susceptible to believing the unbelievable?

The Institute for Rebooting Social Media welcomes BKC-Nieman Fellow Ben Reininga and Nieman Fellow Jesselyn Cook to share their insights into how platforms navigate the spread of conspiracy theories, and the impact they have on individuals, families, and communities, moderated by BKC Faculty Director Jonathan Zittrain.