11 Completely False (and Very Dangerous) Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories can go from amusing to downright harmful. While most of them seem just something to laugh about, many of these beliefs can lead to discomfort and even violence.
Unfortunately, combating conspiracy theories can be difficult. These are 11 examples of conspiracy theories with proof about why they aren’t true.
1: Adrenochrome
Conspiracists claim blood-drinking Hollywood elites are running a child-trafficking ring in order to harvest young blood for the chemical adrenochrome. Adrenochrome is supposedly what keeps these celebrities looking young.
However, scientists point out that while adrenochrome is a real thing, it doesn’t make people appear younger or increase their life span. Furthermore, there’s no proof that Hollywood stars are kidnapping children for adrenochrome.
2: Fluoride for Sinister Purposes
Adding fluoride to drinking water is controversial because fluoride in large amounts is neurotoxic. This leads some Americans to believe the government adds fluoride to tap water to lower the population’s IQ.
In truth, fluoride in small amounts, like the amount present in tap water, prevents cavities.
3: Fake Moon Landing
Some believe the Apollo 11 moon landing was a hoax. Conspiracists give a variety of reasons for this, from the radiation fields on the moon to the unparalleled shadows in Neil Armstrong’s pictures, but science has disproven all of them.
4: Magnetic Vaccines
Opinions on the COVID-19 vaccines are mixed, and some people believe the pandemic was planned. But one thing is certain: Despite what conspiracists claim, mRNA vaccines don’t make you magnetic.
5: Formerly From Mars
A viral TikTok video convinced some that humans lived on Mars in the distant past. The theory goes that the Mars inhabitants destroyed it and then moved to Earth. Evidence of evolution disagrees.
6: Flat Earth
The flat earth theorists claim our planet isn’t round. However, scientists point out that something as simple as watching the sunset proves this conspiracy wrong.
7: Died Suddenly
“Died Suddenly” is a “documentary” that claims post-mortem blood clots are evidence of a “plandemic.” The conspiracy states that the COVID-19 vaccines are part of a planned depopulation attempt by the world’s governments. There’s no evidence to back this up.
8: Jewish Space Lasers
Politicians like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled the theory that space solar generators, also known as space lasers, caused the California wildfires in 2021.
The conspiracy states powerful Jewish families, like the Rothschilds, paid for the lasers to be built. In truth, these fires were due to unprecedented conditions, including high winds.
9: Lizard People
One of the strangest conspiracy theories says some government leaders and other powerful people are actually an alien race of lizard people in disguise. However, the visual “proof” behind this theory comes from doctored photos.
10: Bigfoot
The thought of an extra-large hominid species roaming the woods of the Pacific Northwest may be good fodder for campfire tales, but some people insist Bigfoot is real. Unfortunately for them, scientists have shown purported evidence of Sasquatch is fake.
11: 9/11 Was an Inside Job
Some conspiracists claim the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center was an inside job. However, researchers and journalists have debunked all of the supposed evidence behind this theory.
The Appeal of Conspiracy Theories
Many question how people end up believing in conspiracy theories. What makes them appealing, and why are certain people more attracted to them than others?
Psychology Says
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), some people are more prone to believing in conspiracy theories. A combination of personality traits and motivations, like greater reliance on intuition and the need to feel superior to others, makes believing in conspiracies more likely.
Not What You Think
While society often paints conspiracy theorists as simple-minded or even mentally ill, the APA notes that that’s a misguided stereotype. In truth, people turn to conspiracy theories to fulfill unmet motivational needs and to make sense of their distress.
Similar Traits
Research shows those who believe in conspiracy theories aren’t simple-minded, but they do show higher rates of paranoia, impulsiveness, insecurities, and eccentricities. They are also more likely to be withdrawn and emotionally volatile.
Superior Community
The need to be better than everyone else also plays a role in conspiracy beliefs. Many conspiracy theorists want to feel that the community they identify with is superior to the general public.
Belief in a Bad Guy
Some hypothesize that people believe in conspiracies because it’s easier than believing bad events can happen randomly. Conspiracies almost always point to a “bad guy,” who, if we could only eliminate, would bring an end to the world’s problems.
One in Four Believe
About a quarter of Americans believe in some sort of conspiracy theory, according to a 2017 study. And the majority of Americans believe the number of conspiracy theory believers is increasing.
Out of Control
Many scholars say conspiracy theories amount to a “modern crisis,” and journalists have said we now live in a “post-truth era.” They claim conspiracies have never traveled so quickly or been embedded so deeply into American culture.
Not Quite True
However, research indicates that belief in conspiracy theories probably isn’t increasing. Though the internet may make it easier to spread non-truths, the number of people believing in them doesn’t appear to be on the rise.
Danger of Conspiracies
Whether more people are believing in conspiracies or not, these untrue tales can be detrimental. In some cases, they’ve even led to violence and death. In 2018, a man opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue after buying into anti-semitic conspiracies. Eleven innocent victims died.
Combating Conspiracies
Since conspiracies have the potential to lead to violent acts, the need to combat them is crucial. However, doing so is easier said than done.
The Backfire Effect
Giving conspiracy believers facts to counter their claims often causes them to dig their heels in, in a phenomenon known as the backfire effect. Instead, experts recommend asking them questions about how they came to believe their conclusions. Doing so can make them question their beliefs and slowly chip away at conspiratorial thinking.
25 Common Life Traps Americans Believe
Sometimes, it takes something external to pull a person out of a cycle of thinking that isn’t healthy for them. These are some of the most common life traps Americans fall into.
25 Common Life Traps Americans Believe
14 Hygiene Habits Abroad Americans View as Unhygienic
What Americans see as hygienic doesn’t always hold true in the rest of the world. From using a twig as a toothbrush to washing one’s hands in ash, these are some of the things non-Americans do that we see as unhygienic.
