Truth in the digital age: Is Gen Z drawn to conspiracy theories?

Key takeaways:

• With conspiracy theories rife on social media, 41% of Gen Zers admit they have shared or created it themselves.
• 67% of Gen Zers believe smartphones are secret listening devices, while 52% believe the Government is covering up evidence of aliens, and 33% say Elon Musk is secretly running the country.
• 24% believe social media platforms should censor conspiracy theory content, while 28% believe in mandatory ID verification.

Aliens built the pyramids, billionaires are lizard people, and the world is a perfectly flat disc. Left-field beliefs have always existed, but the list of conspiracy theories has only grown and spread since the advent of social media — and it isn’t just the eccentric crowd sharing them.

It’s a common stereotype that people who believe in conspiracy theories are paranoid, obsessive, and blind to the truth. Yet, EduBirdie recently surveyed 2000 Gen Z Americans on their attitudes toward conspiracy theories, and the results show that if you don’t hold an unproven belief that others would laugh at, you’re the odd one out.

Spend 10 minutes scrolling on social media, and you’re bound to learn something interesting. The question is, is it true? From government cover-ups to celebrity rumors, the internet is rife with unproven theories passed off as fact — and there’s a high chance you’ve shared some of it unknowingly. Whether intentional or unaware, 41% of Gen Zers admit they’ve shared or created conspiracy theory content.

What ifs: The top conspiracy theories that make Gen Z click

There may be no proof, but 77% of Gen Zers are adamant that at least one of the more popular conspiracy theories is true — whether it’s Satanic Taylor Swift,  Britney Spears’ clone, or Illuminati leader Beyoncé.

However, with Donald Trump such a divisive talking point, it’s no wonder he’s the face of today’s most common conspiracies. Some 35% believe the pre-election assassination attempt was staged, and 20% insist Trump is a KGB agent, while many are divided over whether Elon Musk or Melania really wear the trousers.

According to Gen Zers, the moon landing was fake (28%), time travel exists (27%), and we’re living in a simulation (22%).

But if there’s one conspiracy that the young generation agrees on, it’s that we’re not alone in the universe, the Roswell incident wasn’t a military balloon, and Area 51 is home to a few Greys—with 52% certain the government is hiding evidence of alien life.

While most conspiracy theories are divisive, 67% of Gen Zers agree that our smartphones are being used to listen to every conversation we have — no matter how much big tech insists otherwise. 

Whether Covid-19 was a hoax, climate change doesn’t exist, or a secret world order controls global affairs, 84% of Gen Zers insist that not everything in the world is as it seems or as we’re told.

That’s not to say they’re wrong… From MKUltra — the CIA’s mind-control project — to Big Tobacco’s cancer cover-up—there have been plenty of conspiracies that were true in the past, so why not today?

Viral to verified: Shutting down social media conspiracies

Until recently, it was the norm for social media platforms to offer fact-checking measures and warning labels on controversial posts to combat conspiracy theories and misinformation. However, many popular platforms have scaled back these efforts, prioritizing free speech over content moderation.

Yet, not everyone agrees that leaving users to sort fact and fiction themselves is the right approach, with 24% of Gen Zers insisting that social media platforms should censor conspiracy theory content.

What fuels the spread of conspiracy theories on social media? Anonymity often plays a part, allowing misinformation to flourish without accountability. To address this, 28% of Gen Zers believe internet users should have to register using their real name and ID number, linking their online presence to their real identity. For supporters, it’s a safety measure, but for skeptics? It’s just another way for the secret world order to track our every move.

With social media a stomping ground for conspiracy theories, the line between trending topics and the truth is blurred. There’s always an alternative theory — and for Gen Z, it’s often more believable than the truth.