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In the past couple of weeks, I spoke to a lot of journalists and future journalists about the sudden rise of conspiracy theories since Corona. These interviews turned into conversations about their own role in amplifying these theories and contributing to polarization. A thread
In these insecure times without a lot of straight answers, many people do turn to social media to find them there. And yes, some learn about conspiracy theories on social media, but that does not mean that they should be censored.
As long as we call ourselves a democracy everyone has a right to say what they want. This is especially important in times in which the political process is accelerated to a breathtaking speed. Major decisions had to be taken without being scrutinized by the public.
These decisions as well as the pandemic caused hardship in many lives and there was little room for a public debate about that. I understand why people feel like their voice was not heard. Those who challenge the status quo are part and parcel of what democracy is and needs
Yet, having a right to speak is not the same as a right to be heard by everyone. The audience should be proportional to the relevance of a message.
By constantly putting those whose opinion is very deviant from the mainstream in the spotlight, the mass media become one of the key disseminators of the theories and ideas that undermine solidarity and social cohesion.
While I don't think that many people start to believe those theories after reading a critical article in the newspaper, I think that the volume of this coverage distorts the perspective on how many people really believe those theories – also among those who already believe them.
And that affects the various invisible processes that ensure a healthy process of public opinion formation. For example, many people choose to remain silent if their ideas are far away from the mainstream out of fear of isolation.
As a celebrity, it is not smart to say something too political that will cost followers and influence. Normally, they rarely do that. Yet, we have seen several celebrities supporting dubious initiatives and theories – why? Because they felt like they could.
They thought that these thoughts have so much support that it is safe to be a spokesperson of the imagined social movement. https://nos.nl/artikel/2349584-famke-louise-haalt-video-offline-en-biedt-excuses-aan.html
All of this matters a lot more right now, because those who actually represent the mainstream become more and more invisible as they stay home. If those who are on the streets are those who do not support the measures, we are bound to overestimate their size.
As a result, we start doubting ourselves or become angry. I have already caught myself thinking: “Why should I stay home when it looks like everyone else is on the street? If so many people believe xyz, maybe there is some truth to it...”
So, in the months to come it is very important to think about which voices to amplify. Those of the people that challenge the status quo or those who support it? This is not only true for journalists but for all of us.
If we want to get through this winter without more social unrest and polarization, if we want to be able to see the logo of the news on their cars again: it’s time to move the spotlight away from conspiracy theories and people who do not follow the rules. https://nltimes.nl/2020/10/17/dutch-broadcaster-removing-logos-tv-trucks-abuse-threats
Do not open the news with a story about the one restaurant in which people partied without keeping their distance, but about the many restaurants that closed their doors silently. Tell me about the majority people belong to and want to belong to.
This is a very normative thread from an empirical researcher, but since I too am contributing to the amplification of voices that dissolve our social fabric, I just wanted to get this out. Thanks for coming to my Ted-Talk 
