Influencer Conspiracy Theories

 Everyone probably has an Aunt Roksana in their family. A person who loves to talk about conspiracy theories at the Christmas Eve table. 

We never landed on the moon. Covid never really happened either. Global warming? You've got to be kidding. The world is run by reptilians. 

Even if you don't have this characteristic person in your family, our "aunt" at the Christmas Eve table is Edyta Górniak, who has become the face of alternative knowledge. She shares it mainly on Instagram Live. 

However, promoting alternative knowledge is not just about Edyta Górniak. 

Daniel Majewski recently shared an unusual entry on his story. 

Source: instagram.com/thekaroleq95

“The planes are of course “turning back to pick up the luggage of their customers”. Listen, it is worth talking about chemtrail and being aware that these are not the trails of tourist planes. I know what I am talking about, because we have not been feeling well for some time, and the yellow dust settling on garden furniture, terraces, and paving stones is not “sand from the Sahara”. So let’s ask the politicians what this is all about. We will see how absurdly they will get out of it this time”.

Karolek shared Majewski's story on his Instagram.

Now imagine. Some random impressionable person will come across such a report, read it and think – hey, maybe he really is right.

At first glance it seems logical, i.e. "we don't feel too well", plus dust on the garden furniture - it all makes sense.

On the other hand, “feeling unwell” may be the result of other factors – fatigue, smog, stress, loneliness, poor diet, or anything else. 

And the yellow dust on the furniture might just be Polish pine. 

May is the time when pollen begins to be produced, and this pollen production is easily noticeable. The pine tree releases pollen in huge quantities, which has a characteristic yellow-green colour.

On the one hand, you have influencers' opinions that feeling unwell and dust is a conspiracy - on the other hand, typing a few sentences into Google and coming out of your bubble makes the answer simpler than it seemed.

You don't even have to believe me and Uncle Google, you can go for a walk in the forest yourself and easily debunk the chemtrails theories. 

Before I move on to what these deadly "chemtrails" are, it's worth considering the consequences - why you as a viewer or as a creator should not share such content. 

As a creator, you’re going to attract a specific type of audience to your social media. The moment you share something related to a conspiracy theory, some of your followers are likely to expect more conspiracy content from you. And if you don’t give them what they want, you’re doomed to suffer their wrath.

For viewers who watch conspiracy content, this will also have its consequences. In the long run, such content does not do good to the psyche. And if someone is already into it, it can even lead to an inability to distinguish reality from conspiracies. 

Remember that neither influencers nor I don't know, but I'll find out! have a monopoly on the truth. Think independently and use multiple sources that will allow you to form your own opinion.

But what exactly are these chemtrails that Majewski talks about?

The term "chemtrail" is a combination of the words "chemical" and "trace."

Chemtrails, also known as chemtrails, are a conspiracy theory that the contrails of a flying aircraft can be harmful to living organisms. It is argued that such trails may contain chemical or biological agents and are sprayed for purposes unknown to the public. These theories suggest various purposes, including weather control, influencing human health, or even mind control.

Now I will tell you a few words about contrails that you can sometimes see in the sky. 

Contrails are a natural effect of aircraft operating at high altitudes. Composed of water droplets or ice crystals, they form when hot exhaust from aircraft engines meets cooler air. 

In 2016, there was a study of this phenomenon. It was attended by 77 scientists from the field of atmospheric chemistry and geochemistry. 98.7% of them stated then that there is no evidence of the existence of "chemtrails", and that the phenomenon described is ordinary condensation trails. Only one researcher from the 77-person group denied this view. 

So, as you can see, the streaks visible in the sky can be easily explained and you don't need the opinion of influencers to explain it.

The presented study gives us a strong argument not to believe in this conspiracy theory. Because since many scientists in the field of atmospheric chemistry and geochemistry say that the traces visible in the sky are something ordinary, it is worth believing them, and not random influencers who post photos on social media and cause panic among the recipients. 

Why does the chemtrail theory have no scientific basis? There are several reasons for this. 

Studies have shown that there are no chemicals in the contrails other than those that are normal products of burning jet fuel. It is also worth mentioning the physics of the atmosphere. 

The long presence of contrails in the air, or their spread, is the result of natural physical processes of the atmosphere and not, as the conspiracy theory assumes, from the intentional spraying of substances.

Besides, the implementation of an undertaking such as spraying chemicals over our heads would require a huge conspiracy ON A GLOBAL SCALE. Admit it, that seems highly improbable. Moreover, it has never been proven. 

There is therefore no reason to believe that contrails are something unnatural and the result of a worldwide conspiracy. Despite many people trying to present the phenomenon that way. 

The question remains, why do people believe in conspiracy theories like chemtrails?

In fact, there are several reasons why people believe this even though there is no scientific evidence to support this theory. 

One factor is undoubtedly the lack of understanding of science. Some people may not understand the scientific theories or explanations that illustrate the phenomenon of contrails or other processes or events. This lack of understanding may then lead to the search for alternative attempts to explain certain phenomena that we observe but do not understand. 

Moreover, such alternative explanations may paradoxically turn out to make more “sense” to these people than what they would read in the sources. People often prefer simpler, more direct answers, even if they are wrong.

A good basis for the emergence of conspiracy theories and the expansion of the group of followers is suspicion towards the authorities. 

I will quote one comment: 

"Isn't it strange that the so-called "rainbow" appears more and more often in nature? Was a rainbow once seen more than once or twice a year? No! And now you can see it almost every time it rains. Is it a coincidence or is the left manipulating the weather with chemtrails to deliberately shock our children with the symbol of sodomites. "

Many people may have a certain tendency to distrust the government or large corporations. This in turn may lead them to reflect that these bodies certainly have something on their conscience and are certainly capable of conducting secret operations on a global scale. 

A helpful way to understand why conspiracy theories find their adherents is the Dunning-Kruger effect. This is a phenomenon in which people with low competence in a given field believe they know more than they actually do. 

In addition, belief in conspiracy theories can be a confirmation of previous prejudices. If a person already believes in other conspiracy theories, the chemtrail theory can be an extension or extension of the theories they already know. 

And here we come to the heart of the matter. The real virus that spreads conspiracy theories has become the INTERNET. In the age of social media, conspiracy theories spread very quickly and are amplified by groups of people with similar views. The more conspiracy theorists there are, the greater the chance that their beliefs will reach a wider group outside their bubble.

The reasons for believing in conspiracy theories can be divided into three categories. 

The first is the desire for understanding and certainty.

It is a natural human desire to seek explanations for certain processes or situations. We ask ourselves questions like – why does it have to rain today? Why did someone look at me ask a question? And since we ask questions, we also try to find answers. And not necessarily answers that are true, but answers that can comfort us or fit our worldview. It rains because I am unlucky. Someone looked at me ask a question because they didn’t like me.

Conspiracy theories are also false beliefs by definition. But the people who believe in them have a vested interest. After all, they have put a lot of effort into understanding a theory. They would rather have a fleeting sense of understanding than be stuck in a state of uncertainty that is usually not pleasant. 

Another reason for believing in such theories is the desire for control and security.

People want to feel like they have control over their own lives. For example, some people feel safer driving a car than being a passenger. And that's understandable because it gives you some sense of control. 

It's similar to conspiracy theories, which give people a sense of control and security. Let's take global warming as an example. If temperatures rise dramatically over the years, I'll have to reorganize my life and adapt to this new situation. But if experts tell me that global warming is nonsense, then I can live my life at the same level as before. Sometimes it's just easier to believe in such things.

The desire to maintain a positive self-image is another motivation for people who believe in conspiracy theories. Studies show that people who feel socially marginalized are more likely to believe in them.

The scientific and government communities, as well as most people, reject the concept of chemtrails because it is considered a conspiracy theory. However, not everyone thinks this way. A good example are influencers - Majewski and Karolek, who recently posted on their social media, after all, socially harmful content. 

As today's examples show, supporters of conspiracy theories are among us, including in the influencer community. However, such people, by sharing this content, can build an unusual community around themselves. A community that can become addicted to conspiracy theory content. And then such an influencer will lock himself in a disadvantageous situation. Conspiracy theories attract recipients, of course, but later the same people, accustomed to your "strong" content, may still demand equally strong and anti-establishment messages.

Sources:

1. Chemtrails – Analysis of the conspiracy theory (online), available at: https://www.kreatywna.pl/spoleczenstwo/chemtrails-analiza-teorii-spiskowej , [access date: 16/06/2024].

2. Chemtrail conspiracy theory (online), available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemtrail_conspiracy_theory , [access date: 16/06/2024].

3. Chemtrails are being sprayed all over the world? Conspiracy theory (online), access: https://demagog.org.pl/fake_news/chemtrails-sa-rozpylane-na-calym-swiecie-teoria-spiskowa , [access date: 16.06.2024].

4. EDYTA GÓRNIAK AND HER LIVE ABOUT EVERYTHING (online), available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R6gz1mx_uk , [access date: 16/06/2024].

5. Edyta Górniak received an invitation from the Illuminati!? (online), access: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fOOFxgFWjbE , [access date: 16/06/2024].

6. Ludden D., Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories? (online), available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/talking-apes/201801/why-do-people-believe-in-conspiracy-theories , [access date: 16/06/2024].

7. Chemical trails (online), access: https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smugi_chemiczne , [access date: 16/06/2024].

8. Stanisławski P., CHEMTRAILS – WHAT ARE CHEM TRAILS AND WHY DO NOT THEY EXIST? (online), available at: https://www.crazynauka.pl/chemtrails-co-to-sa-smugi-chemiczne-i-dlaczego-nie-istnieja , [access date: 16.06.2024].