What are conspiracy theories?
A conspiracy theory is defined as a belief that a secret but influential group - for example a political party - is controlling events behind the scenes. Examples of widely believed conspiracy theories include the moon landing being fake and the suggestion that the earth is actually flat!
Do young people believe in conspiracy theories?
A 2021 study led by Northumbria University investigated young people's attitudes towards conspiracy theories, and found that these beliefs heightened at the age of 14. This could be due to social media use and psychological factors such as anxiety and stress.
It鈥檚 not just young people. A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Cambridge and YouGov, found that 60% of Britons believe at least one conspiracy theory about topics such as how the country is run.
It鈥檚 important to question what you see online. Conspiracy theories aren鈥檛 necessarily true, with many lacking real evidence, but they can be influential. Practice critical thinking and double-check information using reliable and trustworthy sources.
