January 2, 2023

By Bill Berkowitz

Conspiracy theories have been around for thousands of years. In the age of the Internet they have metastasized; readily available for spreading by anyone with a computer or access to social media. Do you have a favorite conspiracy theory of 2022? Is Donald Trump’s Big Lie still number one on your Conspiracy Hit Parade?

Conspiracy theories can be wacky and downright dangerous: Trump’s Big Lie led to the January 6 attack on the Capital; Pizzagate* pretty much led to QAnon.** Medical disinformation conspiracy theories during the COVID pandemic, particularly about the efficacy of vaccines, has led to thousands of deaths of the unvaccinated.*** On occasion, conspiracy theorists like Infowars’ Alex Jones are held accountable.**** Conspiracy theories are the rebar for rightwing disinformation campaigns before, during and after elections.

And despite the fact that only a small number of people actually believe false ideas, that does not negate their danger. As Keith Raymond Harris recently wrote, “as a scholar of conspiracy theories and their believers, I am concerned that focusing on how many Americans believe conspiracy theories can distract from their dangers.” In his piece for Government Executive titled “Conspiracy Theories Are Dangerous Even if Very Few People Believe Them,” Harris noted (https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2022/09/conspiracy-theories-are-dangerous-even-if-very-few-people-believe-them/377400/): “Even if most people dismiss conspiracy theories or accept them only in some limited sense, leaving very small numbers of true believers, the high visibility of these false ideas can still make them dangerous.”

However, conspiracy theories can also be darn right be wacky, so zany that they can make one’s head spin. So, instead of dwelling on the seriously nugatory – which we certainly should -- stop wracking your brain trying to remember some of the nuttiness that we’ve encountered this year.

The Daily Dot’s Mikael Thalen has composed a list of “The dumbest conspiracies of 2022.”

1)    Conspiracy theorists think these Reebok shoes are Satanic (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/reebok-shoes-satanic-conspiracy-theory/

A conspiracy theory spreading across social media claims that a pair of shoes released by Reebok are “Satanic.” But the theory falls apart under the slightest scrutiny.

2)    Conspiracy theorists fall for fake article claiming conspiracy theorists are always right (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/daily-dot-newsletter-internet-insider-05-02-2022-ironic-conspiracy-theory/)

In what might be the greatest example of irony ever, conspiracy theorists have fallen for a fake news article that claims conspiracy theorists “keep getting things right.”

3)    Conspiracy theorists think Biden’s visit to Poland was entirely staged (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/daily-dot-newsletter-internet-insider-04-18-2022-biden-poland-conspiracy/)

President Joe Biden visited Poland to address the ongoing conflict in the neighboring country of Ukraine. But conspiracy theorists believe footage of the visit proves that the diplomatic trip was actually staged and that Biden was instead on a movie set.

4)    Conspiracy theorists think this video shows Hillary Clinton leading an intergalactic space cult (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hillary-clinton-conspiracy-theory-space-cult/)

A video surfaced online that conspiracy theorists claim shows Hillary Clinton dressed as a “space cult leader” during an “annual earth ritual.” Yet the event was anything but a so-called Satanic ritual as argued online.

5)    Conspiracy theorists are outraged over fake Satanic coffee cups from Starbucks (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/starbucks-satanic-coffee-cups-conspiracy/)

Conspiracy theorists across social media were outraged over what they believe is a Satanic coffee cup being sold by Starbucks. But it turns out that the item has nothing to do with the multinational coffee chain.

6)    Conspiracy theorists think your babies will be forced to drink Bill Gates formula (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/daily-dot-newsletter-internet-insider-05-16-2022-bill-gates-baby-formula/)

Conspiracy theorists accused billionaire Bill Gates (as always) of purposely creating the ongoing baby formula shortage in the U.S. as part of a sinister plot. But an examination of the facts shows that’s not the case.

7)    Conspiracy theorists think ‘FEMA Camp Containers’ were used during the Super Bowl (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/conspiracy-theory-newsletter-02-21-2022-fema-super-bowl-containers/)

While millions across the world enjoyed the 2022 Super Bowl, conspiracy theorists became convinced that internment camp containers had been prominently displayed during the halftime show. But as you’ve likely guessed, the claims aren’t true.

8)    Ukraine invasion reignites a conspiracy theory about a soccer ball that could bring down the Deep State (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/daily-dot-newsletter-internet-insider-03-14-2022-putin-deep-state-soccer-ball-conspiracy/)

A laughable conspiracy theory alleging that Russian President Vladimir Putin gave former President Donald Trump a soccer ball full of secrets about the “Deep State” has resurfaced following the invasion of Ukraine. 

9)    Conspiracy theorists think Jeffrey Epstein was referenced in an episode of ‘Spongebob’ (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/spongebob-jeffrey-epstein-conspiracy-theory/)

Conspiracy theorists are convinced that they have found a connection between the cartoon character Spongebob Squarepants and deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

10)  Conspiracy theorists think Starbucks is ushering in the end of the world by going cashless (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/starbucks-conspiracy-cashless-sign/)

A photograph circulating online that purports to show Starbucks announcing plans to go entirely cashless has conspiracy theorists convinced that the end is nigh. As always, the actual explanation is much simpler.

There is no doubt that conspiracy theories will continue to thrive in this age of disinformation. Some, like those endangering democracy, will be more toxic and dangerous than others.

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* Pizzagate explained: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory)

** (For more on QAnon and its believers, see Brian J. Holoyda’s “The QAnon Conspiracy Theory and the Assessment of Its Believers” in The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law -- https://jaapl.org/content/early/2022/02/18/JAAPL.210053-21).

*** See Wojciech Jankowski: “The first 2022 global medical conspiracy theories are already here” (https://www.untitledkingdom.com/blog/the-first-2022-global-medical-conspiracy-theories-are-already-here)

****  “Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones went on trial this year after relatives of loved ones killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting sued him for defamation. He was found guilty and has since filed for personal bankruptcy as he faces nearly $1.5 billion in court judgments over lies that he spread about the 2012 Newtown massacre” (https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2022-12-27/the-images-that-defined-connecticut-in-2022).