Gareth O'Callaghan: A conspiracy theory is a risky mutation of information

It’s deeply worrying that the conspiracy theory is so highly regarded

An anti-lockdown protest in 2021: Conspiracy theories became rampant during covid but they existed long before the pandemic. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

I spent time last week researching conspiracy theories, deceptive beliefs that a situation or an event is the result of a secret plan made by powerful people. I slowly realised that the task was amounting to a lot of precious hours I would never get back. 

By the time I threw in the towel, I felt like locking myself in a bedroom and closing the curtains, which, I suspect, is what a lot of conspiracy theorists who take their beliefs seriously do, when they’re sharing their beliefs on social media, or preaching to those they believe need educating.