CONSPIRACIES EVERYWHERE

As virulent as a virus, conspiracy theories run rampant during times of uncertainty.

Among the many terms that have entered the mainstream to communicate our new-found reality is one that’s increasingly gaining relevance: infodemic. Shortly after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, its director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a warning about the overabundance of information regarding the virus and the challenges this poses in determining where the accuracy lies. The WHO urged tech companies to take tough action to battle the spread of false information, but months later, social-media platforms continue to be vectors for pandemic conspiracies.

Conspiracy theories frequently surface during times of uncertainty. Ana Stojanov, a PhD candidate at the University of Otago’s Department of Psychology, has researched how perceived lack of control contributes to people believing in these theories. “In times such as the current pandemic, there are many unknowns – such as how did the virus spread initially? What are the long-term effects of patients with COVID-19? How long is the pandemic going to last? Are we going to have another lockdown? Conspiracy theories offer an answer to many of these questions,” she says. “Although the narrative offered by the conspiracy theories is grim, psychologically it is preferable to not having answers.”

While we should be very concerned about those who are predisposed to possess a conspiratorial world view, we should not ignore how easily any of us can repeat fake news and unknowingly cause harm. When the latest COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand saw vicious rumours about the origins of the cluster spread like wildfire, Health Minister Chris Hipkins had to tell the nation off as if it were a group of naughty children. “At a time when we are fighting a pandemic and we need all hands on deck to beat it down, this sort of behaviour is deliberately designed to create panic, fear and confusion, and it is completely unacceptable,” Hipkins said. “So please, New Zealanders, think twice before sharing unverified information.”

Suddenly, we were aware that vile conspiracies are not just contained within the dark corners of the internet – we are all susceptible to hearing and spreading them. Being plunged back into lockdown thrust us into the very state of uncertainty that causes conspiracies to arise. Looking for someone to blame for our new restrictions, in the absence of an explanation for the outbreak from the daily 1pm press briefing, many were ready to accept the rumour they’d read. “People may simply be prone to believe what they read because they haven’t come across ‘expert’ information. And they probably haven’t actively sought to double-check their online sources because the information fits nicely with their world view,” says Stojanov. “There may be cognitive biases at play, such as the tendency to seek confirming instead of disconfirming information.” As we continue to simultaneously battle a virus and a scourge of misinformation, it’s crucial to realise that we are immune from neither.