In a politically divided America, it seems almost impossible for people on opposite sides to agree on anything—yet, in the strange world of social media conspiracy theories, even opposing ideologies can converge. This was the case for Camille, a lifelong Democrat, and Wild Mother, a holistic wellness influencer and passionate Trump supporter. Despite their stark political differences, both women believe that the assassination attempts against Donald Trump in July were staged.
Their reasons, however, differ. Camille thinks Trump orchestrated the attempts to boost his election chances, while Wild Mother believes his enemies within the so-called “Deep State” staged the attacks to frame him. The rapid spread of unfounded claims and misinformation on social media, driven by algorithms designed to reinforce users’ existing views, has pushed both women down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.
As I traveled to Colorado for the BBC podcast Why Do You Hate Me? USA, I found that Wild Mother had been exposed to the QAnon movement’s theories during the pandemic, which strengthened her belief that Trump is battling a corrupt elite. Camille, on the other hand, found herself using conspiracy theory language for the first time, despite once rejecting such ideas.
Both women’s reliance on social media for information fractured their personal relationships, with Camille feeling isolated from Trump-supporting family members and Wild Mother seeing conspiracy theories play a part in the breakdown of her marriage. While neither has engaged in harmful behavior themselves, their deepening distrust in government institutions reflects a growing atmosphere of suspicion and division in America.
This shared belief, despite their political differences, highlights the dangerous power of social media to spread misinformation and blur the lines between reality and fiction, ultimately eroding trust in society as a whole.
