More people believing conspiracy theories could threaten democracy and public health

Growing numbers of conspiracy theorists could pose a threat to democracy, national security and even cause a surge in deadly diseases, experts fear.

Around a third of Brits are thought to believe in conspiracy theories such as “15-minute cities” being a government surveillance ruse and that white people are being replaced by non-white immigrants, known as as “great replacement theory”.

And in the US, conspiracy theories have ran so rampant that thousands of rioters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC, in 2021 in a bid to overturn the election result under the false belief that it had been “stolen” from Donald Trump.

That year ended with an even more bizarre gathering when hundreds of QAnon believers turned up in Dallas under the belief that John F. Kennedy Jr — who died in a plane crash in 1999 — was going to turn up and announce Trump would be reinstated as president.

But while some of the bizarre theories might seem laughable, experts believe their prevalence can cause real harm to people and wider society.

Security expert Professor Anthony Glees said: “From a security perspective, conspiracy theories are a massive problem, made even worse by the social media.

“Conspiracy theories can be used to destabilise democratically elected governments, and to win elections unfairly. They can be used to sap morale and let our enemies score victories.

“Of course people have always been conned but thanks to social media and conspiracy theories this is now happening on an industrial scale.”

The conspiracy-soaked culture that propelled Trump to the White House could harm future elections and the ground in the UK for a similar leader “has become a whole heap more fertile”, he fears.

He told the Daily Star: “Charismatic and suggestive political leaders have always been a danger to democracy. Think Hitler, think Mussolini. But the internet and the web have made it so much easier for them.”

UK Health bosses this week urged people to get vaccinated after a child died from Measles at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.

Vaccination rates have plunged in recent years, partly due to anti-vax conspiracy theories, which rehash the debunked links between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Psychologists say there are a number of reasons people are turning to conspiracy theories, ranging from collective fear in response to underlying social tension to an erosion in trust in institutions.

Psychoanalyst Anat Joseph said: “Conspiracy theories are so prevalent today because they offer something many people crave in uncertain times: clarity, control, and a sense of belonging.

“When the world feels unpredictable or overwhelming, believing in a conspiracy can feel oddly stabilizing—it provides a narrative where someone is in control, even if it’s sinister.”

Kent Bausman, PhD, Professor of Sociology at Maryville University said: “The rise of moral panics or the uptick in conspiracy-level thinking serves to mobilize collective fear in response to underlying social tensions.

“These tensions tend to ratchet up during times of rapid social change, whether due to technological transformations or major demographic shifts. What these conspiracy theories do is structure, in people’s minds, a source or target for the anxieties they are experiencing.

“The danger arises when large portions of the population begin believing such theories, for example, that the 2020 US. election was stolen or that COVID vaccines were causing premature heart attacks.

“In these cases, the social contract between the government and its citizens begins to break down. Culture becomes more fractured, and the lives and reputations of individuals can be irreparably harmed.”

Dr Pamela Walters, an MD and consultant psychiatrist at Eulas Clinic, added: “The erosion of trust in institutions creates quite a fertile ground for conspiracy thinking. When official explanations are seen as untrustworthy or self serving, alternative narratives (however outlandish) can and do gain traction.

“Recent years have seen polarisation in public discourse and frequent examples of institutional failures or corruption coming to light, which will likely reinforce scepticism. Social media can spread these feelings by creating echo chambers and rewarding emotionally charged and controversial content.”

And once someone has fallen down the rabbit hole, they may need to get professional help, Ms Joseph feels. She added: “When someone fully loses touch with reality, especially if it becomes delusional or paranoid, it can be incredibly isolating and even dangerous.

“It’s not just about what they believe—it’s about how it impacts their mental health, relationships, and ability to function in the world. In those cases, professional support is essential.”

Dr Walters added: “When someone fully loses grip with reality, particularly if conspiracy beliefs reach quite a significant intensity, it can be very dangerous.

“They may become socially isolated, lose employment, or make harmful decisions for themselves and others. In extreme cases it can contribute to violence or self-harm.

“On a societal level, widespread loss of contact with reality undermines public health measures, democratic processes, and social cohesion.”

But she said friends of those who have lost grip with reality should treat them with care and empathy. She added: “Approach people with empathy rather than ridicule or it can just deepen their alienation.

“Encouraging critical thinking gently questioning inconsistencies in their beliefs, and maintaining supportive relationships are key. In therapy, building trust and exploring underlying anxieties, feelings of powerlessness, or past experiences of betrayal may help unravel rigid conspiratorial thinking.”

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