大象传媒

What would you do if your mum became a conspiracy theory influencer?

Kate Shemirani is one of Twitter鈥檚 most popular anti-mask, anti-vaccine, anti-5G activists. She calls coronavirus a 鈥減landemic鈥� and a 鈥渟candemic鈥�, makes the false claim that 5G radio waves cause the symptoms of the disease and even says, contrary to all the evidence, that the virus that causes Covid-19 doesn鈥檛 exist.

She鈥檚 built up a huge following on social media, speaks to rallies in London and encourages people to ignore guidelines on social distancing and mask wearing recommended by health authorities and written into law.

Her influence on public health has grown so much that one popular British newspaper recently asked: 鈥淚s this the most dangerous woman in Britain?鈥�

But her son is worried that his mum has gone down the rabbit hole 鈥� and he鈥檚 sounding a warning for others who might be in the same situation.

Sebastian Shemirani describes how conspiracy theories always had a grip on his mother, but the coronavirus pandemic thrust her into the public eye.

Conspiracy theories have torn the family apart 鈥� and now Sebastian has spoken exclusively to the 大象传媒 about the toll it has taken on him.

Plus we hear from experts about the right way to talk to friends and family members who are being drawn in by conspiracy theories.

Presented by Jonathan Griffin and Marianna Spring

Photo: Sebastian Shemirani

Photo credit: 大象传媒

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