The 21st century, with its rapid technological advancements and the proliferation of the internet, has seen a surge in the spread and diversity of conspiracy theories. Here’s a list of some of the notable conspiracy theories from this period:
- 9/11 Conspiracy Theories: Various theories suggest that the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, were either an inside job by the U.S. government or involved some form of government complicity or foreknowledge.
- Chemtrails: The belief that the condensation trails left by airplanes contain chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed for unknown purposes by the government.
- New World Order: This theory, which began in the 20th century, continued into the 21st century, with beliefs that a secret power elite is conspiring to rule the world through an authoritarian world government.
- Barack Obama’s Birth Certificate: The false claim that former U.S. President Barack Obama was not born in the United States and therefore was not eligible to be president.
- Climate Change Hoax: The assertion that scientific consensus on climate change is based on manipulated or false data and that global warming is a hoax.
- Vaccine Conspiracy Theories: Various theories suggesting that vaccines are harmful, cause autism, or are used for population control or as part of a government plot.
- Flat Earth Theory: Despite centuries of scientific evidence to the contrary, the flat earth theory made a resurgence, claiming the Earth is flat and that this truth is being suppressed by a global conspiracy.
- QAnon: A wide-ranging and baseless conspiracy theory alleging that a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles is running a global child sex-trafficking ring and plotting against former U.S. President Donald Trump.
- COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories: Various theories related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins (like being a bioweapon), the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, and the motivations behind lockdown measures.
- 5G Technology and Health Risks: The unfounded theory that 5G cellular network technology causes health risks such as cancer or even that it is linked to the spread of COVID-19.
- The Great Replacement: A white nationalist theory that there is a deliberate plot, often attributed to global elites, to replace white European populations with non-European people through mass migration, demographic growth, and a decline in white birth rates.
- George Soros Conspiracy Theories: Various unfounded claims that the billionaire philanthropist is behind a range of global events and movements.
These theories often spread rapidly through social media and internet forums and are generally characterized by a deep distrust of official narratives and institutions. They range from the relatively benign to potentially dangerous, influencing public opinion and at times, even policy. It’s important to approach such theories critically and with a reliance on evidence-based information.