Conspiracy theories aren't at all new – in 2008, as many as one in six Kiwis thought the Moon landings were faked – but the Covid-19 pandemic has super-charged the spread of misinformation here and around the world. Similarly, those more likely to vote in future elections saw political beliefs as more important to themselves – and were less likely to buy into conspiracy beliefs. Misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines and health measures has pushed Kiwis toward other conspiracy theories - as well as racist and violent ideologies. "Overall, our findings suggest that ideological extremity may be a risk factor for increased belief in conspiracy theories - and that a more nuanced understanding across social and economic ideology may help clarify whether a 'moderate' position may also be fertile ground for conspiracy theorising." The study comes as Kiwi researchers have launched a new, two-year programme to explore what drags people toward conspiracy theories and whether buying into one pulls them toward others.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 26, 2022 14:18 UTC