Conspiracy theories and social media

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy theories about the Corona virus have spread rapidly. Based on a representative survey of German Internet users, the study examines connections between COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and media use. The focus of the study is on the role of alternative media and influencers, as well as social media. Social media are not considered in aggregate, but the connections between the use of individual platforms and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs are differentiated.

In the paper published in the journal Studies in Communication and Media ,junior professor Dr. Fabian Prochazka and researchers from the University of Hohenheim present the results of their study and discuss possible causal interpretations and implications of these findings.