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How to talk about conspiracy theories

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

We鈥檝e all been there 鈥 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 鈥 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 鈥渆vil plots鈥 and 鈥渄eadly vaccines鈥?
Trending brings together a man who鈥檚 been drawn towards social media鈥檚 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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18 minutes

Last on

Sun 12 Jul 2020 21:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 11 Jul 2020 04:32GMT
  • Sat 11 Jul 2020 17:32GMT
  • Sun 12 Jul 2020 01:32GMT
  • Sun 12 Jul 2020 21:32GMT

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