Spreaders of Conspiracy Theories: Unmasking the Motivations Behind the Lies

[Social Media]

 

While much research has been dedicated to understanding why people believe conspiracy theories, a surprising revelation is that some individuals sharing these ideas online don’t even believe their own claims. Instead, these conspiracy spreaders are opportunists, using these theories as tools to manipulate others, stir conflict, and even make a profit.

 

 

These people are not motivated by genuine belief. They share conspiracy theories to cause chaos, radicalize followers, harass others, or simply seek attention. They thrive in an environment where falsehoods run rampant, and their insincerity makes them especially dangerous. There are several types of opportunistic conspiracy spreaders, each with their own agenda.

 

One of these groups includes extremists who share conspiracy theories as a recruitment tactic. According to research, certain extremist groups intentionally push these theories to lure in potential followers. They experiment with different ideas to see which ones resonate, hoping to create a so-called "gateway conspiracy" that will lead someone to further engagement and eventual radicalization. In fact, people who express positive feelings toward extremist groups are significantly more likely to knowingly share false information.

 

One example comes from a disinformation-monitoring company, Blackbird.AI, which tracked over 119 million COVID-19 conspiracy posts in 2020. Of these, more than 32 million were flagged as manipulative, with extremist groups, such as the Boogaloo Bois, responsible for spreading many of these lies. Members of this group generated over 610,000 tweets, with 58% of them aimed at incitement and radicalization. The insincerity of these posts becomes evident when members admit that they don’t actually believe in the theories they are promoting. As one Boogaloo member, Aron McKillips, bluntly put it: “I don’t believe in anything. I’m only here for the violence.”

 

Governments also exploit conspiracy theories for their own purposes. Russia’s 1903 fabrication, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” is a notorious example, and more recently, China created a fake conspiracy theory about the August 2023 Maui wildfire using artificial intelligence. Russia, in particular, has a long history of using conspiracy theories to fuel conflict. They spread falsehoods to support conflicting sides of contentious issues, intentionally sowing division. Unlike true believers who typically stick to one side of an issue, Russian disinformation campaigns are infamous for their “fire hose of falsehoods,” relentlessly spreading lies to create confusion and polarization. 

 

Another group, those with a "need for chaos," are individuals who share conspiracy theories for the thrill of causing disruption. These everyday trolls often don’t care whether the information they share is true or false—they simply want to wreak havoc. An example of this behavior was seen after the first assassination attempt on Donald Trump, when someone falsely identified the shooter online. The intent wasn’t to inform but to harass an innocent person whose photo had been stolen. This fake story was seen by over 300,000 people and further spread by others looking to fan the flames of confusion.

 

Profit-seeking individuals also play a large role in spreading conspiracy theories. These opportunists have something to gain, whether it be money, influence, or followers. For example, researchers identified 12 key figures responsible for the majority of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories online. Many of these individuals had a direct financial interest in continuing the spread of falsehoods. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, once boasted that his followers would "buy anything." Meanwhile, Fox News, in its coverage of the 2020 election, publicized false claims of voter fraud, despite internal communications revealing that their on-air personalities didn’t actually believe in the theories they were promoting.

 

Finally, some people share conspiracies simply for the attention. These common conspiracists may not have a financial motive but enjoy being part of a conversation. Many post content they don’t fully believe in, or even know is false, just to provoke reactions or to “stir the pot.” This behavior is rampant on social media, where some users, knowingly or not, contribute to the spread of misinformation for the sake of engagement.

 

The ultimate danger of these opportunists is that over time, they may even begin to believe their own lies. To justify their unethical behavior, they may convince themselves that their actions are acceptable or that the conspiracy theories were true all along. 

 

It’s essential to approach the content we encounter online with caution, recognizing that many of those spreading conspiracy theories don’t even believe what they’re saying. They want to manipulate and mislead, so it’s important not to fall into their trap. As one piece of advice wisely warns: “Be aware before you share.” Don’t let yourself become what these opportunists cynically refer to as a “useful idiot.”

 

Based on a report from The Conversation 2024-10-07

 

 

 

[bradiston]

Excellent article. Should be pinned to the top of every forum!

[thaibeachlovers]

IMO people will believe conspiracy theories because they don't trust the government/ authorities to tell the truth.

[impulse]

31 minutes ago, bradiston said:

Excellent article. Should be pinned to the top of every forum!

 

It's a piece of drivel, conveniently forgetting revelations in the Twitter files, Zuck coming forward (4 years later) and apologizing for squelching accurate information, 51 "intelligence experts" claiming the laptop was fake, claims that the vaccine was "one shot, then you can visit grandma" (and that there would be no adverse side effects), shutting down restaurants was "following the science", but keeping the liquor stores open was okay, that walking on the beach (in the winter) is crazy dangerous, and on and on.

 

Way too many conspiracy theories have been coming true, especially since voice has been given to people outside the MSM.   Voices that they'd rather you not listen to.

 

[Tug]

It’s certainly a tool used to grift no doubt about it I wholeheartedly agree with bradiston.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO people will believe conspiracy theories because they don't trust the government/ authorities to tell the truth.

First conspiracy theory of the thread.

 

Thank you for demonstrating the truth of the article.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

It's a piece of drivel, conveniently forgetting revelations in the Twitter files, Zuck coming forward (4 years later) and apologizing for squelching accurate information, 51 "intelligence experts" claiming the laptop was fake, claims that the vaccine was "one shot, then you can visit grandma" (and that there would be no adverse side effects), shutting down restaurants was "following the science", but keeping the liquor stores open was okay, that walking on the beach (in the winter) is crazy dangerous, and on and on.

 

Way too many conspiracy theories have been coming true, especially since voice has been given to people outside the MSM.   Voices that they'd rather you not listen to.

 

Why so negative, you were given the attention of two whole paragraphs:

 

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Finally, some people share conspiracies simply for the attention. These common conspiracists may not have a financial motive but enjoy being part of a conversation. Many post content they don’t fully believe in, or even know is false, just to provoke reactions or to “stir the pot.” This behavior is rampant on social media, where some users, knowingly or not, contribute to the spread of misinformation for the sake of engagement.

 

The ultimate danger of these opportunists is that over time, they may even begin to believe their own lies. To justify their unethical behavior, they may convince themselves that their actions are acceptable or that the conspiracy theories were true all along. 

 

[save the frogs]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO people will believe conspiracy theories because they don't trust the government/ authorities to tell the truth.

some conspiracy theorists are charlatans.

 

or some conspiracies might be well-intentioned, but not true. 

 

so it makes it hard to know what to believe and what not to believe. 

 

and then some people revert back to believing everything they hear on CNN. 

 

complex topic. 

 

here's a conspiracy: Trump is a troll

 

[koolkarl]

One particular group uses it as 1 tool to greatly influence the gullible.

[john donson]

ah... conspiracy that turns out to be the truth after digging a bit...

 

wuhan 'bat' eating virus...  cdc knew what they were doing, it is called MISINFORMATION...but that is ok when they do the fake news spreading...

 

there would have been no emergency vaccine if  iverm... would have been proved to do some good or good old plane vitamin d, zinc, ...

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, john donson said:

ah... conspiracy that turns out to be the truth after digging a bit...

 

wuhan 'bat' eating virus...  cdc knew what they were doing, it is called MISINFORMATION...but that is ok when they do the fake news spreading...

 

there would have been no emergency vaccine if  iverm... would have been proved to do some good or good old plane vitamin d, zinc, ...

There’s an irony in you bring up bats.

[Cory1848]

23 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There’s an irony in you bring up bats.

Graphic novelist Alan Moore put it best: “The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theories is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in the conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic. The truth is, that it is not the Jewish banking conspiracy, or the grey aliens, or the twelve-foot reptiloids from another dimension that are in control, the truth is far more frightening; no-one is in control, the world is rudderless.”

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

Graphic novelist Alan Moore put it best: “The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theories is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in the conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic. The truth is, that it is not the Jewish banking conspiracy, or the grey aliens, or the twelve-foot reptiloids from another dimension that are in control, the truth is far more frightening; no-one is in control, the world is rudderless.”

And there’s lots of psychology research backing up this attachment to conspiracy theories.

[bradiston]

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

It's a piece of drivel, conveniently forgetting revelations in the Twitter files, Zuck coming forward (4 years later) and apologizing for squelching accurate information, 51 "intelligence experts" claiming the laptop was fake, claims that the vaccine was "one shot, then you can visit grandma" (and that there would be no adverse side effects), shutting down restaurants was "following the science", but keeping the liquor stores open was okay, that walking on the beach (in the winter) is crazy dangerous, and on and on.

 

Way too many conspiracy theories have been coming true, especially since voice has been given to people outside the MSM.   Voices that they'd rather you not listen to.

 

55555. Nice try. Your brain has been enlisted by the enemy. Now that's a conspiracy theory I will subscribe to!

[Watawattana]

1 hour ago, koolkarl said:

One particular group uses it as 1 tool to greatly influence the gullible.

Oh!  I was told that the word gullible had been removed from the dictionary.  I believed them!  Was that a conspiracy? 😬

[Tug]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There’s an irony in you bring up bats.

Ouch!touché!! lol 😂 

[NorthernRyland]

The media labels all speculations and allegations which they don't approve of as  "conspiracy theory". If you take this at face value you need to stop and think harder.

 

We know about "state run media" but what about "media run state"? 

[billd766]

5 hours ago, bradiston said:

Excellent article. Should be pinned to the top of every forum!

I agree that it should be, but it wouldn't make any difference. It would simply be ignored. It would however make more work for any of the modulators who would have to look at and read every post on every forum and check each post for contact.

 

Then they would have to bar every poster that broke the rule, and ensure that each new poster is not a banned member who is recycled.

[NorthernRyland]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

First conspiracy theory of the thread.

 

Thank you for demonstrating the truth of the article.

Someone doesn't trust the media and this what you jump to? You sound like exactly the kind of brainwashed person the media has been trying to create. Is there anything they write you don't believe?

[frank83628]

so basically, its Russia, China and the right wing that spread misinformation , so everyone needs to trust the US gov, cia and mainstream media

[billd766]

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

some conspiracy theorists are charlatans.

 

or some conspiracies might be well-intentioned, but not true. 

 

so it makes it hard to know what to believe and what not to believe. 

 

and then some people revert back to believing everything they hear on CNN. 

 

complex topic. 

 

here's a conspiracy: Trump is a troll

 

quote "and then some people revert back to believing everything they hear on CNN."

 

Answer "then some people revert back to believing everything they hear on Fox news."

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

The media labels all speculations and allegations which they don't approve of as  "conspiracy theory". If you take this at face value you need to stop and think harder.

 

We know about "state run media" but what about "media run state"? 

Yet another conspiracy offered up in defense of conspiracies.

 

 

[Celsius]

Yes, all conspiracy theories are fake news and that's why Julian Assange spent over a decade hiding and locked up.

 

Also Team America World Police is a documentary.

[bradiston]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO people will believe conspiracy theories because they don't trust the government/ authorities to tell the truth.

Neither do I, but I treat all other sources with extreme scepticism also. Conspiracy theorists always have this mythical idea of "believers in MSM". They love to jeer and ridicule people who don't subscribe to their warped out version of reality, and who they think believe everything they read. Their arrogance is astounding, like they're the only ones in the know, and everybody else is just too stupid to have "figured it out". That's what really pxsses me off, and why I'll savage them on every possible occasion. Their theories are totally laughable in most cases.

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Someone doesn't trust the media and this what you jump to? You sound like exactly the kind of brainwashed person the media has been trying to create. Is there anything they write you don't believe?

Yet more conspiracy.

 

For clarity, the media which spans the whole political spectrum from hard left through to hard right has put aside their political differences and is somehow acting in unison to brainwash people into a mindset that they all agree on?

[Purdey]

One often sees people saying, "Do your own research" and think, if you were right then apply for your PhD.

The fact is, there are people who think they can guess the truth without having a real qualification.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Yes, all conspiracy theories are fake news and that's why Julian Assange spent over a decade hiding and locked up.

 

Also Team America World Police is a documentary.

Assange spent over a decade in hiding because he wasn’t man enough to face justice.

 

 

[frank83628]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Assange spent over a decade in hiding because he wasn’t man enough to face justice.

 

 

justice for being a journalist?

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

justice for being a journalist?

No.

His guilty plea is recorded here.

 

Lets have a little less of your misinformation.

 

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/wikileaks-founder-pleads-guilty-and-sentenced-conspiring-obtain-and-disclose-classified

[impulse]

14 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Also Team America World Police is a documentary.

 

Are you confusing Team America with Idiocracy?