Paranoid visions: the conspiracy theories taking root among us

With levels of online misinformation at an all-time high, many people are turning to outlandish conspiracy theories in an attempt to explain the chaotic world around us

Conspiracy theories tend to flourish in times of crisis when people are looking for answers and for ways to cope with difficult circumstances

Back in the 1990s, a poster for the hit television series The X Files depicted a UFO hovering over the words: “I want to believe.” It was perfect for a show that traded on humanity’s fascination with conspiracy theories, phenomena it depicted as existing on the fringes of society.

Fast forward to 2020 and a global pandemic. Conspiracy theories are quickly becoming less fringe, more mainstream. In April, damage to telecommunications masts in Donegal was ...