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Trending: How to talk about conspiracy theories

Factual

How to talk about conspiracy theories

11/07/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Trending, How to talk about conspiracy theories

How should you engage with someone edging towards conspiracy theories?

The coronavirus pandemic has driven many people towards conspiracy theories. How should you engage with someone teetering towards the rabbit hole?

We’ve all been there – that awkward situation that happens over the dinner table or at a party, when someone starts talking about conspiracy theories. 
With the coronavirus pandemic has come a huge wave of novel online misinformation – including some outlandish ideas and panicky people who are buying into them.
So what do you do when confronted with someone who starts spouting obvious falsehoods about “evil plots” and “deadly vaccines”?
Trending brings together a man who’s been drawn towards social media’s fringes and an expert who studies the psychology of people who believe in conspiracy theories. 
What happened when they sat down for a socially distanced chat?
Plus we give some tips on how to talk to people who are edging towards the rabbit hole. 

Presenter: Jonathan Griffin 
Reporter: Marianna Spring

Photo caption: Woman wearing a mask looking at a computer screen
Photo credit: Getty Images

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