conspiracy theories they are not newyou’ve probably heard or read about it throughout your life: reptilians, illuminati, UFOs and the origin of the coronavirus are some of the most popular.
These have recently acquired a media trend in Mexico and, according to an analysis prepared by Cetys Universidad, It has a lot to do with its reach or “views” what they can achieve. In other words, they managed to become a monetizable product.
The higher power behind conspiracy theories
This term could be understood as a “higher power hidden and created in the upper echelons” political, economic, scientific, etc., with the intention of ideologically and behaviorally manipulate To other people. In this context, they could be used to reject claims that are considered:
- misunderstood.
- paranoid
- No fundamentals.
- Extravagant.
- irrational.
For Dr. Dora Caudillo Ruíz, who works at the institution leading this study, the creators of the conspiracy theories intend to verify that a powerful and influential group dominate the world with a specific objective. Of course, without relying on proven evidence.
“In popular culture, it is identified as a type of folklore close to that of an urban legend, in particular because present a three-part narrative: cognitive biases based on rumours, alternative versions in the search for answers, and the assumption of an altered reality on the subjects and the facts that the conspiracy theory describes”he explained.
As for their rise, he insists it is due to the range or “views” they can achieve. Indeed, it is quite normal that the algorithm of some search engines suggest this type of content while users are surfing the Internet, and the reason is to be highly visible.
It is to highlight that young people are generally the most likely to believe these theories. Experts say it’s because they still don’t have decision-making power in society and tend to think of others as “the ones pulling the strings” in the various areas or activities.
The damage that conspiracy theories could cause
On the other hand, the report warns of the main damage they could cause these unverifiable theories: poor decision-making. For example, a person who takes a theory related to Covid vaccines to heart could refuse to be vaccinated and, therefore, be seriously compromised by contracting the disease.
“Hence the importance of developing critical thinking; wondering about the origin of the source, identify arguments based on factsweigh scientific knowledge against empirical knowledge, analyze facts objectively and not subjectively and, above all, be a responsible user, both those who generate content and those who consume it”says part of the document.
The most famous theories
These are a few examples of popular conspiracy theories: the reptilians, the illuminati, the extraterrestrials, the flat earthlings, the attack on the twin towers, the origin of the current pandemic, the anti-Covid vaccines, the man on the moon, the authorship of “Romeo and Juliet and Othello”, the black or satanic origin of the song “Aserejé”, among others.
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