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Maui conspiracy theories are spreading on social media. Why this always happens after a disaster | CNN Business https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/26/tech/maui-wildfire-cause-conspiracy-theory/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/26/tech/maui-wildfire-cause-conspiracy-theory “It’s not uncommon for #conspiracy theories to make the rounds after a national #crisis. According to Renee DiResta, a research manager at Stanford University who studies #misinformation, people often look for a way to make sense of the world when they are anxious or have a feeling of powerlessness”. Via @CaulfieldTim
“Theories that attribute the cause of a #crisis to a specific #BadActor offer a #villain to blame, someone to potentially hold responsible,” DiResta said. “The conspiracy theories that are the most effective and plausible are usually based on some grain of truth and connect to some existing set of beliefs about the world.”
For example, someone who distrusts the government may be more inclined to believe someone who posts negatively about a government agency.”