Conspiracy Theories and Online Extremism

Pizzagate

False conspiracy about child trafficking in a pizza shop basement

Myanmar and Facebook

Shipping smartphones with predownloaded Facebook led to violence against Rohingya

Rohingya

Muslim group in Myanmar targeted due to religious differences

Jair Bolsonaro

Far-right conspiracist who became the president of Brazil in 2018

Christchurch massacre

Massacre targeting Muslim worshippers in a Mosque, carried out by a political extremist

Moral outrage

Social instinct that leads to anger towards those with differing beliefs

Tyranny of cousins

Mob mentality or communal impulse

Gamergate

Misogynistic harassment campaign against feminist ideas in video games

QAnon

Conspiracy group with a large following, identified as a domestic terror threat

Engagement

Amount of time spent on an app, maximized by platforms for increased profit

Zika conspiracy

False conspiracy claiming the Zika outbreak was created in a laboratory

Intermittent variable reinforcement

Method of rewarding behavior at random intervals to maximize effort

4chan

Website known for anonymity, used to group social outcasts

8chan

Website known for anonymity, used for desensitization to violence