Young Australians most likely group to believe in conspiracy theories

Young Australians are the most likely to believe in conspiracy theories, such as COVID-19 being a hoax, global warming doesn’t exist and human contact with aliens has been deliberately hidden from the public.

Ross Stevenson has a theory it was because young people spend more time on social media.

Dr Mathew Marques, La Trobe University School of Psychology and Public Health, said it was hard to know whether that was the case, but research showed younger people were more at risk at falling into rabbit holes.

“And once people believe in one conspiracy theory, they’re more likely to believe in another – even if those conspiracy theories are mutually exclusive,” he said.

He said those feeling vulnerable, isolated and anxious were most likely to be drawn into believing them.

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