Has your child heard about secret world conspiracies in a TikTok video or received a chain letter with strange claims from friends? Such situations are not uncommon. Conspiracy myths spread rapidly on social networks in particular and can have a lasting impact on young people’s world view.
Conspiracy narratives and fake news are similar because they contain information that is not true. However, conspiracy myths are more complex. They assume that everything – positive and negative events – is planned in order to achieve a specific goal. It is claimed that a small group of malicious actors are deliberately keeping the truth secret in order to advance their own interests.
Conspiracy myths have always existed. Especially in the case of significant or shocking events, they offer seemingly simple explanations for complicated relationships. It is often claimed that a secret group is controlling the fate of the world or spreading false facts in order to gain an advantage. Especially in uncertain and confusing times, many people fall back on such seemingly simple explanations.
On the internet and via social networks, such stories spread particularly quickly and widely. When your child starts to take an interest in world events – usually in adolescence – and is increasingly independent on the internet, sooner or later they will come across conspiracy myths. This can happen via videos from influencers, posts on social media platforms or chain letters on WhatsApp.
TikTok thrives on short, captivating videos. The algorithm primarily shows content that matches users’ preferences. This quickly creates a spiral: once you watch or like a video with conspiracy myths, you will be presented with more such content. This makes the myths more present and credible for young people than they actually are.
Due to its lack of content control, Telegram provides a breeding ground for extreme opinions and myths. As there is no moderation or fact-checking, such content can be spread unhindered.
Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) also play a role. Although it is less popular with young people, the lack of moderation there enables the rapid spread of conspiracy myths and radical views. Content from X can be disseminated via other networks, for example as memes, and thus also reach young people.
Wars, assassinations or the outbreak of a worldwide pandemic are difficult to comprehend – for children and young people as well as for adults. Young people are just beginning to find their own identity and place in the world. They do not yet know exactly who they want to be and are looking for orientation. Conspiracy myths can fulfill important needs in this phase:
Conspiracy stories can be entertaining, which is why they are often used in various media: the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, aliens living among us, the idea of the Earth as a disk – such thought experiments can be interesting for children and young people and awaken their creativity.
But even if some myths seem harmless, they harbor risks:
Talk to your child about myths and help them to categorize and question them. Take your child seriously, even if they begin to engage intensively with conspiracy myths, accept parts of them as truth or exchange ideas with followers in communities. If you dismiss their interest with statements such as “It’s all just crazy conspiracy myths”, your child may distance themselves from you – and then look for like-minded people online. Instead of confronting your child with counter-arguments, you should ask critical questions together: Who is saying this? What motives could the storyteller have for spreading this story? Are there things that contradict each other? Are the sources trustworthy? Are there similar patterns in other conspiracy myths?
A critical approach to information is the most important tool against conspiracy myths. Show your child how to check the veracity of a source and provide access to reputable and age-appropriate news sources. You can also research the background and sources of the story together, as well as the arguments of the ‘other side’.
This can help:
News and information made for children
Conspiracy myths explained
Websites where you can check the truthfulness of news items