A global cabal of elites seek to ‘depopulate and control the world’, breaking down Western (or white) civilisation: so goes the long-lasting New World Order conspiracy theory proving resilient in the face of COVID-19.
Misinformation helps such conspiracy theories to thrive. What’s less clear is why people spend time and effort over an extended period posting conspiracy-related content to communities that agree.
People spread misinformation for a range of reasons. Some intentionally mislead, while others are driven by their genuine belief in what they consider to be the truth. Sharing misinformation may be an attempt to convert others to their ‘truth’, while for others it’s to reassure their sense of belonging to a like-minded community, characterised by much broader ideological worldviews.
