I’ve been writing about conspiracy theories and misinformation for more than a decade. But QAnon, which first emerged in 2017, always seemed different. (1/10)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/nothing-can-stop-what-is-coming/610567

I set out to report this story because I wanted to understand who really believed in Q, and why. What I learned surprised me. (2/10)

For the uninitiated, the basic premise: Q is a military insider with proof that world leaders are secretly torturing children; the malefactors are embedded in the “deep state”; Trump is working to thwart them. Q posts internet clues called “Q drops” to advance these ideas. (3/10)

QAnon is unusual for a few reasons: It’s a real-time participatory conspiracy theory, which turns Q’s adherents into characters in the story they’re following. The fervor with which people seem to buy into the theory is extraordinary. (4/10)

People who believe in Q aren’t overwhelmingly interested in Q’s identity. And though the conspiracy theory is premised on a search for truth, adherence requires the total abandonment of empiricism. This is a mass rejection of reason. (5/10)

QAnon is often described as a “far-right conspiracy theory,” but that’s not quite right. It’s a pro-Trump conspiracy theory. Donald Trump isn’t an ordinary Republican. For Q followers, he is the savior in a battle between good and evil. (6/10)

The figureheads of the movement include Q influencers like @prayingmedic and @tracybeanz, who build tremendous audiences of Q followers and are positioned to profit from people’s attention. (7/10)

Drama among this crowd has spilled into debate about the very nature of the web, going back to early notions of what and whom the internet is for. This came up in my conversations with 8chan’s founder and 8kun’s current administrator, who are actively feuding. (8/10)

But the true believers I interviewed aren’t caught up in any of that. They draw peace, strength, and hope from Q. They talked about Q as one might talk about a spiritual figure, using language that draws on an ancient preoccupation with end-times. (9/10)

What I came to learn is that QAnon isn’t just a dangerous conspiracy theory. We are witnessing the birth of a new religion. And we are likely closer to the beginning of its story than the end. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/qanon-nothing-can-stop-what-is-coming/610567/ (10/10)