Throughout history, individuals have crafted theories about phenomena that deviate from the mainstream narrative. There has also been an equal number of individuals who ponder the reasons behind the existence of these theories. Is it general paranoia? Is it to disrupt society? Or is it just them trying to make sense of a world full of falsehoods?

 

The earliest known usage of the phrase was in 1863 and it has been used countless times since. This is especially true in recent years. The great uncertainty that the world was put through when the COVID-19 lockdown hit set the perfect breeding ground for theories that have subsequently traveled throughout the world with the help of social media. Two of these are: that the vaccine was a way for the government to microchip people, and that the virus itself was made to be a bioweapon. But there is no evidence for either of these suspicions. Even before COVID-19 there were periods in time where lots of change occurred and conspiracies abounded.  For example, many people speculate that the 1969 moon landing was faked.

 

My view is that this seems to convey that people are interested and invested in these theories because they offer a framework through which the seemingly implausible advancements of technology and science can be understood. The theories may help the theorists to understand and feel at home in a quickly advancing world that can be very overwhelming. This interest could also serve as a unifying force bringing together those that may have never met without it, giving them groups and communities that offer a sense of belonging to individuals.