ANATOMY OF A CONSPIRACY THEORY

ON Tuesday, we uploaded the above article to the JC’s website and Facebook page.

The story, although in its way a classic of its genre, was yet another article about yet another media outlet publishing yet another antisemitic conspiracy theory.

Clearly mistakenly, we did not feel the need to point out that the documentary’s allegations were utter rubbish.

Mistakenly, because within minutes of the story being published, the potency of conspiracy theories – and the seemingly insatiable hunger of some people for them – was demonstrated by a stream of comments on social media welcoming the revelations supposedly contained in the documentary and praising the Russian channel, REN TV, for its exemplary investigative work. One Facebook user wrote: “Hadn’t heard about the Chernobyl connection before”, and another commented: “Nice work, REN TV”.

Another added: “The only one that’s not news is Chernobyl but it is no surprise. And by Jews we are talking the Zionist Cabal with their Archon blood”.

The journey of the story through social media is an object lesson in how conspiracy theories spread on the web.