“How to Talk to a Conspiracy Theorist” Panel Discusses QAnon, Extremists Groups and Big Tech
In a panel hosted by New America, experts in the field of disinformation and communications discussed social media and its effects on public policy and society in the fake news era.
By: Mina Mohammadi
How should social media platforms, journalists, educators and political figures handle growing influential conspiracy groups like QAnon in the era of fake news?
Professionals in the fields of disinformation and communications came together September 16 via Zoom, warning against the increase in QAnon influence in the American psyche and the overall fake news horizon ahead as social media takes a larger presence in journalism.
Earlier this year a Pew Research Center survey found that 36% of US adults believe that certain popular conspiracy theories were probably or definitely true. These people are plentiful: some might even be your friends, neighbours or family members.
“It’s impossible to deny that conspiracy theories are having serious real world effects,” said Torie Bosch, Editor at Future Tense and the panel’s moderator. “Just last night a QAnon supporter won the GOP senate primary in Delaware. There will be one QAnon supporter in the House after this fall.”
As these far-right conspiratory groups like QAnon come closer into the mainstream, journalists have no choice but to cover these groups. This however, raises questions around the ethicalities of these types of reporting: how should people and journalists talk about extremists groups without adding fuel to their fire and what rhetoric should be used to conduct these conversations?
“You cannot write about QAnon in a detached, objective way as it thrives off of that energy,” said Whitney Phillips, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University. “We are contributing as we are speaking and there should be acknowledgement of that.”
Ali Breland, Disinformation Reporter at Mother Jones, spoke about how he approaches QAnon reporting.
“As a reporter I do not have a firm way of figuring out when to report on Q but I do try to make sure there is a worthwhile trade off. There should be a justice and accountability component with the human interest stories as opposed to highlighting its absurdity,” said Breland.
While reporters and journalists hold responsibility when it comes to talking about QAnon and extremist groups, panelists highlighted the increasing role of big tech in these stories and how without significant change, these groups will only become more prominent.
“We have to start thinking about the system in which our stories flow,” said Alexander Halavais, Associate Professor at Arizona State University School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “Without change in the opacity of algorithms by big tech, we will be having these conversations even more frequently. QAnon should be considered a warning; it will only get worse from here.”
