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Conspiracy theory definition

Conspiracy theory

Noun. A belief that some secret but influential organization is responsible for an event or phenomenon.

Related terms: cloak-and-dagger, plot, circular reasoning, cognitive bias, fake news, propaganda, fallacies

All about conspiracy theories

The European Commission: Identifying conspiracy theories
The coronavirus pandemic has seen a rise in harmful and misleading conspiracy theories, mostly spreading online. To address this trend, the European Commission and UNESCO are publicising a set of ten educational infographics helping citizens identify, debunk and counter conspiracy theories.
Comparative Analysis of Conspiracy Theories: Guide to conspiracy theories
National Geographic: Why people latch on to conspiracy theories, according to science
The Anthill Podcast: Expert guide to conspiracy theories: introducing a new podcast series
American Psychological Association: Speaking of Psychology: Why people believe in conspiracy theories, with Karen Douglas, PhD
How conspiracy theories start, why they persist, who is most likely to believe them and whether there is any way to combat them effectively.
Wired: Why Teens Are Falling for TikTok Conspiracy Theories

The Conversation: How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one

The Guardian: It's only fake-believe: how to deal with a conspiracy theorist
As the pandemic has taken a grip, so have the misinformation spreaders. Here are five ways to spot the holes in their logic
BBC: How should you talk to friends and relatives who believe conspiracy theories?
MIT Technology Review: How to talk to conspiracy theorists—and still be kind
10 tips to debunk conspiracy theories convincingly.
The Open University: I've been talking to conspiracy theorists for 20 years – here are my six rules of engagement

What's your favourite conspiracy theory film?

All the President's Men: 0 votes (0%)

Enemy of the State: 1 votes (33.33%)

JFK: 0 votes (0%)

Conspiracy Theory: 0 votes (0%)

The Da Vinci Code: 0 votes (0%)

The X-Files: 1 votes (33.33%)

The Manchurian Candidate: 1 votes (33.33%)

Moonwalkers: 0 votes (0%)

Total Votes: 3

Conspiracy theories in the news