Your Closest Friends Are Most Likely To Make You Buy Into Conspiracy Theories, Study Finds

According to the American study, 50% of 18-24 year-olds believe that the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was organized by the Democratic Party. Patrick Daxenbichler/Shutterstock

On social networks, it is impossible to scroll without coming across yet another conspiracy theory involving celebrities and other secret societies. But according to an American study, if the platforms are a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, it is our loved ones who reinforce us in these false ideas. Explanations.

This is not new. Conspiracies spread like wildfire on social networks. While the platforms are often criticized for their role in spreading false information, a study conducted by researchers from several American universities highlights the preponderant role of the family and friends circle in the belief of this false information.

We trust our loved ones

In other words, you will be more likely to believe a theory smoker if you heard it from someone close to you. “While social media was a key vector for exposure to conspiracies, the Finding these theories plausible was associated with having heard about them through social connections. This result is consistent with classical ideas about the persuasive role of mass and interpersonal communication,” the study argues.

To try to understand why respondents believe in these conspiracy theories, the researchers questioned 2,765 people from July 17 to 21, 2024, a few days after the first assassination attempt on Donald Trump, then in the middle of the election campaign in Pennsylvania. Following this failed attempt, many conspiracy theories have emerged and been relayed by supporters of both political sides.

While 93% of respondents confirmed that they had learned of the attack on the former President of the United States, 65% said they had learned of it through television, followed by social media at 44%, and then through family and friends at 30%.

While 38% of Americans surveyed heard the theory that Democrats were behind the attack, more than half (52%) heard it on social media. Still, 31% heard it from friends and family, as well as on television.

50% of respondents were still aware of the broader conspiracy theory that the whole thing was a fabrication. Of those, 52% heard it on social media, 32% heard it from family and friends, and 25% heard it on television. Almost a third of them still think that the rumor could be true, including 11% who describe it as "very likely" and 19% who describe it as "fairly likely".

“These descriptive findings contrast with reports from other researchers who argue that relatively few Americans – primarily highly mobilized partisans – are exposed to most online misinformation. We find quite the opposite: More than half of Americans quickly became aware of one or both of the conspiracy ideas, primarily through social media and interpersonal relationships. Moreover, a significant percentage of those who knew these stories believed them,” the study says.

Social pressure

So it's hard to get away from social pressure: “They [conspiracy beliefs] tend to be held by people who are inclined to this type of thinking, motivated to hold a given belief, and who have received information through social connections. Attempts to ameliorate conspiracy beliefs must distinguish between the diffusion of exposure and the exposure of belief, and recognize the varying roles of media and interpersonal influence at each stage,” the study concludes.

It is worth noting that among the respondents, who had an average age of 57, 62% were women, 34% were Republicans, and 36% voted Democrat.