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Jun 08, 2022 … KATOWICE, Poland — Conspiracy theories have always been a prevailing part of pop culture, but the past two years have seen the paranoia reach new heights. Many people may be familiar with the “plandemic” — or the refusal to believe the “official story” of COVID-19. Now, fascinating new research out of Poland reports these conspiracy theories…

Dec 21, 2021 … PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Misinformation about COVID-19 continues to influence millions of Americans, impacting their decisions on getting the coronavirus vaccine for themselves and their families, a new poll reveals. Moreover, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found more Americans now believe the conspiracy theory that the virus was created for use as a biological weapon. The…

Sep 23, 2021 … PULLMAN, Wash. — Conspiracy beliefs are solidified by people who fully trust the information they see on social media platforms, a recent study finds. A conspiracy is a belief that an event (often historical) occurred because of some larger, nefarious plan. Although they are usually false theories, researchers from Washington State University say that the…

May 17, 2021 … WASHINGTON — As the famous quote goes, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” In the digital age, misinformation and conspiracy theories reach millions of people before social media platforms remove them from view. With incorrect information about the COVID-19 vaccines running rampant online, many…

Dec 18, 2020 … PRINCETON, N.J. — Is being a social outcast more likely to make you look at the world with suspicious eyes? According to a new study conducted by Princeton researchers, isolation may be the common denominator between those who frequently engage in conspiracy theories. Researchers ultimately conclude “that the feelings of despair brought on by social exclusion can…

Jul 28, 2020 … NEWARK, Del. — Surprisingly, a new study finds gender is a more accurate predictor of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs than political affiliation. Researchers from the University of Delaware say that men are more likely than women to endorse and spread COVID-19 conspiracy theories. Unfounded claims regarding the coronavirus are everywhere these days. Moreover, just like everything else…

Mar 25, 2019 … SCHENECTADY, N. Y. — People who believe in conspiracy theories tend to possess similar personality traits, including the belief that they’re never safe and that nonsensical statements are more profound than silly, a recent study finds. Researchers at Union College in upstate New York sought to find out which personality characteristics were most likely to…

Jun 23, 2018 … BRISBANE, Australia — Despite a mountain of scientific evidence and the vast majority of doctors standing behind the research, many parents are still skeptical of vaccinations for their children. But traditional medicine might not be the only thing they’re suspicious of. A new study now shows that “anti-vaxxers” are prone to supporting other common conspiracy…

Mar 06, 2018 … EXETER, England — Fake news has been a growing problem in recent years, and while many outlets have been vigilant in fighting against it, a new study finds that sometimes all it takes is just an implication or subtle hint within news coverage that can increase belief and adherence to false facts. Researchers from the University…

Dec 04, 2017 … CHAMPAIGN, III — The better your news literacy, the less likely you’ll fall for conspiracy theories, a new study finds. Researchers at the University of Illinois surveyed almost 400 online participants about their level of confidence in ten popular conspiracy theories, many discredited, while attempting to evaluate each participant’s ability to use news media literacy skills.…

Apr 01, 2022 … BURNABY, British Columbia — Google’s autocomplete feature attempts to make internet browsing and the retrieval of accurate information easier, but is this supposedly convenient attribute helping fuel conspiracy theories and mislead the public? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is yes, according to researchers from Simon Fraser University. Study authors report that Google’s autocomplete algorithms…

Jul 06, 2020 … Researchers use the infamous “Pizzagate” story and “Bridgegate” controversy to investigate a made-up conspiracy compared to a real one. LOS ANGELES — From elaborate scientific hoaxes to clandestine government plots, conspiracy theories abound in this age of social media and internet forums. The speed at which these false narratives proliferate, and the profound effects they…

Feb 19, 2020 … PHILADELPHIA — The anti-vaccination movement, despite its controversial philosophy, continues to gain quite a followers. Similar to popular conspiracy theories, the mindset that vaccinations do more harm than good has largely spread thanks to the internet and social media. Recently, researchers from the Annenberg Public Policy Center conducted a study on modern vaccine beliefs involving close…

May 21, 2019 … BERKELEY, Calif. — Many people who like to base their beliefs and political leanings on fact are often bewildered when they find people who still believe that the Holocaust was a hoax, the Earth is flat, climate change isn’t real, or vaccines cause autism. But a new study suggests the true reason why these false…

Jun 16, 2022 … MARS — NASA’s Perseverance rover sparked interest this week when it spotted a mysterious silver object lodged between some rocks on Mars. However, the space agency has quickly dampened conspiracy theorists’ excitement by claiming it is debris from the rover’s landing equipment. Ultimately, experts concluded the debris is a thermal blanket that likely came loose during…

Apr 27, 2022 … TEL AVIV — Antisemitic incidents across the globe skyrocketed in the past year, according to a new report. Antisemitism was particuraly high in first-world countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. The dramatic increases may have stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic and the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas. Researchers…

Feb 18, 2022 … EDINBURGH, Scotland — It’s fairly common knowledge these days that not all accounts and users on social media are actually real people. Some are “bots” programmed to convey and promote a particular political slant or talking point, while others just spam the web with advertisements. Interestingly, however, researchers from the University of Edinburgh find celebrities…

Oct 22, 2021 … NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Conspiracy theories, abusive and toxic behavior, and generally offensive posts continue to run rampant across social media platforms, despite developers supposedly doing everything they can to ban such content. Now, researchers from Rutgers University argue that there is a way to “detoxify” social media: Ban right-wing extremist influencers permanently. Study authors…

Jul 22, 2021 … SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Finding misinformation on social media is not likely to shock many people. Wild claims and conspiracy theories pop up on various platforms daily, with the most recent cases involving the coronavirus pandemic and its vaccines. Now, unfortunately, a new study reveals that cancer research is not immune to this misinformation campaign…

May 13, 2021 … KENSINGTON, Australia — The internet is a wonderful place because it’s open to anyone. Of course, the internet can also be an awful place because it’s open to anyone. That catch-22 of convenience and a serious lack of oversight has reared its ugly head in recent years as the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories has…

Apr 08, 2021 … MONTREAL, Quebec — Since the start of the pandemic, misinformation, conspiracy theories, and falsehoods about COVID-19 have been running rampant. According to researchers from McGill University, America isn’t just a COVID hot zone, it’s a breeding ground for bad info. Their study claims Americans are “super-spreaders of COVID misinformation,” and warns that the U.S. “infodemic”…