Conspiracy Theories: Weaponised From the Fringe to Your Feed? | Misinformation, Radicalisation & the Attention Economy

<p>The internet gave us a way for conspiracy theories to find their audiences, connecting people and building communities around often-fringe ideas. But has it also supercharged them, turning once-fringe ideas into powerful forces of polarisation, division and radicalisation that reach far beyond the screen?</p><p>Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.</p><p>Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. <a href="https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/</a></p><p>We’re joined by Dani Mercy, host of The Rabbit Hole: Conspiracy Theories podcast, where she dives deep into conspiracy theories both past and present. With such wide-ranging investigations of her own, there are very few people who've gone deeper into this world than she has.</p><p>In this episode we investigate how the internet transformed conspiracy theories from fringe curiosity into an industrialised ecosystem, examine the psychological and emotional machinery that makes them so effective in a digital environment, explore the role of monetisation and outrage in keeping them alive, and ask whether AI is the most dangerous amplification tool the conspiracy world has ever had.</p><p>(00:00) The rise of conspiracy theories in the digital age</p><p>(03:12) Understanding the rabbit hole phenomenon and how it works</p><p>(05:54) The role of social media in spreading and amplifying conspiracies</p><p>(09:03) How technology has changed what people believe and why</p><p>(12:08) Why debunking rarely works, and sometimes makes things worse</p><p>(15:03) Political polarisation and the conspiracy theory ecosystem</p><p>(18:10) COVID-19 as a case study in digital conspiracy at scale</p><p>(21:08) When digital conspiracies produce real-world consequences</p><p>(21:59) How conspiracy theories themselves have evolved in the digital age</p><p>(24:40) The monetisation of outrage: who profits and how</p><p>(29:21) Historical context: confirmed theories, debunked ones, and everything in between</p><p>(31:52) The role of AI in creating and spreading conspiracy content</p><p>(34:39) How to navigate conversations with people who believe</p><p>(38:25) Technology's dual impact: conspiracy accelerant and potential antidote</p><p>Key takeaways:</p><p>• Weaponising the Label: Originally popularised by the CIA after the JFK assassination to protec