Photograph: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive
Effective conspiracy theories draw in believers by appearing to give a glimpse behind the curtain, of how the world really works, while preserving a sense that even in the modern technological era, there are still mysteries beyond most people’s understanding.
The problem is that most conspiracies come at a cost. It might seem harmless to believe aliens have made contact with humans, but suggesting that terror attacks were “false flags” or that secret societies are abducting children can fracture communities, provoke violence, and tear families apart.
