Why the Pandemic is Turning So Many People into Conspiracy Theorists

Large-scale crises can put a damper on critical thinking skills.

By Elizabeth Svoboda
May 11, 2020 6:25 PMNov 3, 2020 5:10 PM
Anti-COVID lockdown protest - Shutterstock
Protesters outside the Ontario Legislative Building in Toronto, May 3, 2020, protest the COVID-19 shutdown. (Credit: Puffin's Pictures/Shutterstock)

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Since COVID-19 lockdowns descended, people’s longings for haircuts, child care and adult interaction have steadily grown. But there’s one thing for which our appetite seems even more insatiable: conspiracy theories.

The latest example making the rounds is the already-debunked Plandemic video, which argues that shadowy forces manipulated the virus to control people. Despite its out-there premise, the video has had serious uptake: It racked up more than a million views before YouTube removed it. Other discredited COVID theories have amassed their own cult followings.

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