Ed Pilkington, The Guardian; Trapped in a hoax: survivors of conspiracy theories speak out
"Conspiracy theories used to be seen as bizarre expressions of harmless
eccentrics. Not any more. Gone are the days of outlandish theories
about Roswell’s UFOs, the “hoax” moon landings or grassy knolls.
Instead, today’s iterations have morphed into political weapons.
Turbocharged by social media, they spread with astonishing speed, using
death threats as currency.
Together with their first cousins, fake news, they are challenging
society’s trust in facts. At its most toxic, this contagion poses a
profound threat to democracy by damaging its bedrock: a shared
commitment to truth...
Amid this explosive growth, one aspect has been under-appreciated: the
human cost. What is the toll paid by those caught up in these
falsehoods? And how are they fighting back?"
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