COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerated Spread of Conspiracy Theories Globally

The pandemic fueled distrust in institutions and science, amplified by social media and political exploitation.

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant rise in conspiracy theory adherence, with 35% of French citizens and 55% of Americans reportedly believing in such theories by 2023.
Social media platforms played a pivotal role in accelerating the dissemination of conspiracy theories, reducing the time and geographic barriers for their spread.
Theories ranged from claims about the virus being lab-created to misinformation about vaccines, often exploiting societal fears and uncertainties during the crisis.
Far-right political movements and figures, such as Donald Trump, leveraged conspiracy narratives to gain traction, undermining public trust in science and democratic institutions.
The pandemic's legacy includes a shift towards a 'post-truth' era, where misinformation continues to erode the boundaries between facts and opinions in public discourse.