Twitter Removes Thousands Of QAnon Accounts, Promises Sweeping Ban On The Conspiracy
4 years, 5 months ago

Twitter Removes Thousands Of QAnon Accounts, Promises Sweeping Ban On The Conspiracy

NPR  

Twitter Removes Thousands Of QAnon Accounts, Promises Sweeping Ban On The Conspiracy Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP Twitter said on Tuesday it has removed more than 7,000 accounts associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory, a loose group of online provocateurs who support President Trump and spread absurd claims about forces supposedly attempting to topple the president. Content associated with QAnon will be banned from the platform's trends section and tweets sharing links involving QAnon theories will be blocked, Twitter officials said. Twitter officials told NPR that the crackdown against QAnon is expected to affect more than 150,000 accounts, making it the most wide-reaching and aggressive response to the pro-Trump conspiracy theory that any social media platform has ever undertaken. Sponsor Message The new measures against QAnon, Twitter said, are in line with the company's effort to police content that can lead to offline harm.

Trump Twitter Accounts Conspiracy Theory Qanon Conspiracy Qanon Conspiracy Theory  sweeping  qanon  conspiracy  theory  media  content  promises  accounts  roberts  thousands  removes  twitter  platforms  social  ban

History of this topic

Elon Musk Is Giving QAnon Believers Hope Just in Time for the 2024 Elections
54 years, 11 months ago

Elon Musk Is Giving QAnon Believers Hope Just in Time for the 2024 Elections

Wired  

With no new messages from Q in almost three years and former US President Donald Trump facing mounting legal woes, one would think that the QAnon political conspiracy was losing steam. “Let’s gooooooo,” wrote Erica, a member of a prominent QAnon channel on Telegram, in response to Musk’s post. QAnon believers also shared increasingly radical conspiracies about Musk, including apparent …

Why Trump went full QAnon: He's desperate — and "those are the only people he's got left"
2 years, 2 months ago

Why Trump went full QAnon: He's desperate — and "those are the only people he's got left"

Salon  

During Donald Trump's Sept. 17 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, members of the audience began to sway in time with the music playing over the loudspeakers and pointed their index fingers in the air as the former president talked about the supposed disintegration of the United States. On Friday, at another rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, he seemed to invoke QAnon's …

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks
2 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I haven’t heard that, but is that supposed …

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Associated Press  

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows. On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.” In QAnon lore, the …

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Associated Press  

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows. On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.” In QAnon lore, the …

Trump fully embraces QAnon on Truth Social — hours after obsessed supporter allegedly killed wife
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump fully embraces QAnon on Truth Social — hours after obsessed supporter allegedly killed wife

Salon  

In his one-term presidency, Donald Trump pushed out a number of notorious conspiracy theories tied to voter fraud, climate change and vaccines, but it wasn't until recently that Trump expressed his explicit support for QAnon – which promotes the idea that Trump is the savior of the American people. Despite the dangers of endorsing a movement the FBI has labeled …

'How much more obvious can it get?' QAnon believers ecstatic over Trump's endorsement in latest meme
2 years, 3 months ago

'How much more obvious can it get?' QAnon believers ecstatic over Trump's endorsement in latest meme

Raw Story  

On Tuesday, VICE reported that QAnon adherents are rejoicing over former President Donald Trump's increasingly open embrace of their movement, symbols, and slogans. " Trump shared a picture of himself wearing a Q lapel pin, overlaid with the QAnon phrases 'The Storm is Coming' and 'WWG1WGA,' on his Truth Social account on Monday evening. QAnon adherents never explain why Trump …

Dozens of QAnon accounts are being white-listed on Trump's Truth Social
2 years, 3 months ago

Dozens of QAnon accounts are being white-listed on Trump's Truth Social

Raw Story  

There is a concern that Donald Trump's social media site could go dark as a hosting bill of over $1 million has gone unpaid. When asked whether he agreed their conspiracy theories were "cray" or "untrue," he replied, “I don’t know about QAnon.” Months later, speaking with the U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other aides, and saying that …

QAnon's 'Q' delivers first new messages since 2020
2 years, 6 months ago

QAnon's 'Q' delivers first new messages since 2020

Salon  

On Friday, amidst the chaos of the news of the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, QAnon's 'Q' left the first new series of messages since 2020. — was left using 'Q's credentials on what Daily Beast refers to as an "anarchic internet community" called 8kun, and was later followed up with "Are you ready to serve your …

QAnon has receded from social media -- but it’s just hiding
3 years, 5 months ago

QAnon has receded from social media -- but it’s just hiding

Associated Press  

On the face of it, you might think that the QAnon conspiracy has largely disappeared from big social media sites. Where Facebook groups once openly referenced QAnon, you’ll now see others like “Since you missed this in the so called MSM,” a page referencing “mainstream media” that boasts more than 4,000 followers. “There was a very, very explicit effort within …

QAnon moves into the shadows but movement remains active
3 years, 5 months ago

QAnon moves into the shadows but movement remains active

Al Jazeera  

Social media platforms have removed thousands of accounts associated with QAnon, so users are changing their tactics. “There was a very, very explicit effort within the QAnon community to camouflage their language,” said Angelo Carusone, the president and CEO of Media Matters, a liberal research group that has followed QAnon’s rise. But the social giant will still cut individuals posting …

John McAfee's sudden death inside a prison fuels conspiracy theories
3 years, 6 months ago

John McAfee's sudden death inside a prison fuels conspiracy theories

Op India  

John McAfee, the antivirus software pioneer, died suspiciously inside his jail cell in Spain on June 23. In a tweet in December 2019, John McAfee had shared a picture of his tattoo on his right arm, saying, “If I suicide myself, I didn’t. Check my right arm.$WHACKD available only on https://t.co/HdSEYi9krq🙂 pic.twitter.com/rJ0Vi2Hpjj — John McAfee November 30, 2019 In his …

U.S. intelligence report warns of more violence by QAnon followers
3 years, 6 months ago

U.S. intelligence report warns of more violence by QAnon followers

LA Times  

A new federal intelligence report warns that adherents of QAnon, the conspiracy theory embraced by some in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, could target Democrats and other political opponents for more violence as the movement’s false prophecies increasingly fail to come true. Many QAnon followers believe former President Trump was fighting enemies within the so-called deep state to …

US intel report warns of more violence by QAnon followers
3 years, 6 months ago

US intel report warns of more violence by QAnon followers

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A new federal intelligence report warns that adherents of QAnon, the conspiracy theory embraced by some in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, could target Democrats and other political opponents for more violence as the movement’s false prophecies increasingly fail to come true. Many QAnon followers believe former President Donald Trump was fighting enemies within the so-called …

QAnon content "evaporated" online following post-Jan. 6 social media crackdown, study finds
3 years, 6 months ago

QAnon content "evaporated" online following post-Jan. 6 social media crackdown, study finds

Salon  

New social media policies meant to limit the spread of QAnon conspiracies online appear to be working, new research shows. The study, conducted by the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensics Lab, found that QAnon conspiracy-related phrases "evaporated" from both mainstream and alternative social media sites, like Parler and Gab, following high-profile moderation efforts from companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter. In …

Q revealed? HBO documentary names potential leader of QAnon conspiracy
3 years, 9 months ago

Q revealed? HBO documentary names potential leader of QAnon conspiracy

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The film, Q: Into The Storm, which airs …

Some local GOP leaders fire up base with conspiracies, lies
3 years, 9 months ago

Some local GOP leaders fire up base with conspiracies, lies

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Associated Press reviewed public and private social media accounts of nearly 1,000 federal, …

Facebook, Twitter outpaced by smaller platforms in fight against harmful content
3 years, 10 months ago

Facebook, Twitter outpaced by smaller platforms in fight against harmful content

The Hindu  

Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube made smaller strides than their social media rivals including TikTok and Reddit at battling harmful content such as hate speech and misinformation during the second half of 2020, a study released on Monday showed. Advertising agency IPG Mediabrands released its "Media Responsibility Index," examining how the top social media platforms performed in 10 areas including …

The truth about Russia's role in pushing the QAnon canon of conspiracies
3 years, 10 months ago

The truth about Russia's role in pushing the QAnon canon of conspiracies

Raw Story  

The cult of QAnon is at a crossroads. Whatever role Russia may have played in promoting this conspiracy theory, the real problem is that there's a huge market in the United States for conspiracy theories that promise the violent overthrow of democracy. Q is old conspiracies made new Many of the central tenets of QAnon are retreads of the antisemitic …

Unwelcome On Facebook And Twitter, QAnon Followers Flock To Fringe Sites
3 years, 10 months ago

Unwelcome On Facebook And Twitter, QAnon Followers Flock To Fringe Sites

NPR  

Unwelcome On Facebook And Twitter, QAnon Followers Flock To Fringe Sites Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Stephanie Keith/Getty Images January brought a one-two punch that should have knocked out the fantastical, false QAnon conspiracy theory. When NPR and Ipsos polled people about whether they believe QAnon's core false claim — that "a group of Satan-worshipping elites who …

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World
3 years, 10 months ago

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World

NPR  

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images Now that former President Donald Trump has left office, the community of believers in the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory are left wondering what will happen next. Sponsor Message After the mob stormed the Capitol, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on Jan. …

QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4
3 years, 10 months ago

QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. According to reports, the sovereign citizen …

QAnon in disarray as reality of Biden presidency settles
3 years, 11 months ago

QAnon in disarray as reality of Biden presidency settles

Al Jazeera  

Followers of the far-right conspiracy theory will likely migrate to other groups and their offshoots, experts say. Coming to terms As Biden – part of the liberal cabal, according to Q beliefs – took office, some on platforms like the encrypted messaging app Telegram and far-right social media site Gab pushed for adherents to “trust the plan”, a common phrase …

What’s Happening to QAnon Now That Trump Is Out of Chances to Arrest the Satanic Elites
54 years, 11 months ago

What’s Happening to QAnon Now That Trump Is Out of Chances to Arrest the Satanic Elites

Slate  

As Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States at noon on Wednesday, holdouts of the ever-evolving QAnon conspiracy theory were forced to reckon with the reality that Donald Trump was not going to pull this one out. Followers of QAnon hold that satanic pedophiles control the world’s major institutions, which is why many thought that Trump would …

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast
3 years, 11 months ago

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast

NPR  

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Former President Donald Trump did not declare martial law in his final minutes in office; nor did he reveal a secret plan to remain in power forever. New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose …

Amazon to Remove QAnon Products From Platform Days After US Capitol Violence
3 years, 11 months ago

Amazon to Remove QAnon Products From Platform Days After US Capitol Violence

News 18  

Amazon on Monday said it was working to remove some QAnon products from its online marketplace, citing policies that prohibit offensive items or other inappropriate content. The world’s largest online retailer drew scrutiny for having apparel with QAnon insignia and related books up for sale days after QAnon followers joined last week’s siege of the US Capitol, which left five …

Twitter removes over 70,000 accounts promoting QAnon conspiracy theories since US Capitol riots
3 years, 11 months ago

Twitter removes over 70,000 accounts promoting QAnon conspiracy theories since US Capitol riots

Firstpost  

The microblogging site said it acted to clamp down on QAnon-associated posts that have ’the potential to lead to offline harm' San Francisco: Twitter announced Monday it has suspended “more than 70,000 accounts” linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory following the attack on the US Capitol by a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters. “Since Friday, more than 70,000 accounts …

Twitter suspends 70,000 accounts sharing QAnon content
3 years, 11 months ago

Twitter suspends 70,000 accounts sharing QAnon content

Al Jazeera  

Twitter has suspended more than 70,000 accounts since Friday that were primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content after last week’s violence in Washington when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol. “Given the violent events in Washington, DC, and increased risk of harm, we began permanently suspending thousands of accounts that were primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content …

Facebook Removes 'Stop The Steal' Content; Twitter Suspends QAnon Accounts
3 years, 11 months ago

Facebook Removes 'Stop The Steal' Content; Twitter Suspends QAnon Accounts

NPR  

Facebook Removes 'Stop The Steal' Content; Twitter Suspends QAnon Accounts Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Reynolds/AP Michael Reynolds/AP Social media giants Twitter and Facebook have announced stricter measures on their platforms aimed at curbing misinformation and further unrest in response to last week's deadly insurrection led by pro-Trump extremists at the U.S. Capitol. Sponsor Message Twitter said it has …

How QAnon’s lies are hijacking the national conversation
4 years ago

How QAnon’s lies are hijacking the national conversation

CNN  

CNN — It started with a Tweet from a QAnon supporter at 2:09 in the morning: #SubpoenaObama. “A lot of people scoff at QAnon – think it’s just a bunch of, let’s face it, a bunch of idiots who believe anything on the internet,” Riggleman told CNN. “Just saying you like QAnon is not akin to basically being a believer …

QAnon | Riding the ‘infodemic’ wave
4 years ago

QAnon | Riding the ‘infodemic’ wave

The Hindu  

More than one month since presidential elections were held in the U.S., incumbent President Donald Trump has refused to concede his loss to Joe Biden despite the fact that the latter has clearly secured 306 Electoral College votes and 51.3% of the popular vote. COVID-19 is not the only viral threat that has engulfed the U.S.; the misinformation “infodemic” — …

Inside the spread of conspiracies and disinformation by women on social media
4 years ago

Inside the spread of conspiracies and disinformation by women on social media

Raw Story  

“The QAnon stuff infiltrated Instagram and seeped into the suburban consciousness of American women to a certain extent, and they bought into it,” according to experts. Facebook, which acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, cracked down on October 6, saying, “we will remove any Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon, even if they contain no violent content.” …

QAnon’s ‘independent and self-sustaining’ rise in Japan shows the conspiracy theory’s global spread
4 years ago

QAnon’s ‘independent and self-sustaining’ rise in Japan shows the conspiracy theory’s global spread

Hindustan Times  

QAnon’s days as a solely US phenomenon are over. The spread of QAnon globally could have real-world consequences such as decreased uptake of Covid-19 vaccines The conspiracy theory’s foothold in Japan -- home to one of its most active networks outside the US-- demonstrates how the movement can be made palatable in a range of countries as it gains popularity …

QAnon posts were promoted by Russia-linked accounts as early as November 2017
4 years, 1 month ago

QAnon posts were promoted by Russia-linked accounts as early as November 2017

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors …

Patreon follows Facebook, Twitter in Qanon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

Patreon follows Facebook, Twitter in Qanon crackdown

LA Times  

A man holding a Q sign waits in line to enter a rally for President Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The company announced in a blog post that it would be taking action against accounts who use its platform to actively spread QAnon’s beliefs. The post detailed how “QAnon-dedicated creators that are identified by our Policy and Trust & Safety teams …

The Hindu Explains | How QAnon went from a bizarre conspiracy theory to an election talking point
4 years, 2 months ago

The Hindu Explains | How QAnon went from a bizarre conspiracy theory to an election talking point

The Hindu  

In a recent televised townhall, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked if he denounced the right-wing conspiracy theory QAnon, which claims that Democrats are part of a satan-worshipping pedophile ring, and that Mr. Trump is the “savior” from this. QAnon is an elaborate right-wing conspiracy theory that believes a wide range of people – Democratic party leaders, Hollywood elites, U.S. …

AP Explains: What’s behind Trump’s town hall answer on QAnon
4 years, 2 months ago

AP Explains: What’s behind Trump’s town hall answer on QAnon

Associated Press  

“Ask the Q” has been a rallying cry for QAnon believers since the conspiracy theory’s online birth three years ago. Many QAnon followers believe thousands of deep state operatives and top Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, will be rounded up and sent to Guantanamo Bay during an event called “The Storm.” In May 2019, an FBI bulletin mentioning QAnon warned that …

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown

The Hindu  

YouTube is following the lead of Twitter and Facebook, saying that it is taking more steps to limit QAnon and other baseless conspiracy theories that can lead to real-world violence. It said it would remove pages, groups and Instagram accounts for representing QAnon — even if they don’t promote violence. Facebook’s move came two months after it announced softer crackdown, …

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown

Associated Press  

OAKLAND, Calif. — YouTube is following the lead of Twitter and Facebook, saying that it is taking more steps to limit QAnon and other baseless conspiracy theories that can lead to real-world violence. Facebook’s move came two months after it announced softer crackdown, saying said it would stop promoting the group and its adherents. “All of this work has been …

What is QAnon, the conspiracy theory spreading throughout the US
4 years, 2 months ago

What is QAnon, the conspiracy theory spreading throughout the US

Al Jazeera  

At least 24 US political candidates have supported a conspiracy that claims liberals are harvesting children’s blood. The far-right QAnon conspiracy theory has made waves in this election after US President Donald Trump’s acknowledgement of its adherents in August and an increase in Republican and independent congressional candidates embracing the movement, which many consider a mad hoax or even a …

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous amid surging misinformation
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous amid surging misinformation

The Hindu  

Facebook Inc on Tuesday classified the QAnon conspiracy theory movement as dangerous and began removing Facebook groups and pages as well as Instagram accounts that hold themselves out as representatives. The step escalates an August policy that banned a third of QAnon groups for promoting violence while allowing most to stay, albeit with content appearing less often in news feeds. …

Facebook completely bans conspiracy group QAnon on all its services
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook completely bans conspiracy group QAnon on all its services

India Today  

Facebook is cracking down on groups, themes, and accounts that represent the QAnon movement. Facebook’s first attempt to restrict such accounts came in August when it removed around 1500 QAnon accounts and groups for showing potential violence. "We’ve been vigilant in enforcing our policy and studying its impact on the platform but we’ve seen several issues that led to today’s …

Right-wing QAnon conspiracy theorists see their pages banned across all Facebook platforms
4 years, 2 months ago

Right-wing QAnon conspiracy theorists see their pages banned across all Facebook platforms

Salon  

Facebook announced on Tuesday that it is banning QAnon content across its platforms, an action that it characterizes as part of a larger effort to stop "Militarized Social Movements" from recruiting people through their social media sites. "Starting today, we will remove any Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon, even if they contain no violent content," Facebook explained …

Facebook says it will ban groups that openly support QAnon
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook says it will ban groups that openly support QAnon

Associated Press  

OAKLAND, Calif. — Facebook said it will ban groups that openly support QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that paints President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and “deep state” government officials. The company said Tuesday that it will remove Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts for “representing QAnon” — even if they …

QAnon Supporters Aren’t Quite Who You Think They Are
4 years, 2 months ago

QAnon Supporters Aren’t Quite Who You Think They Are

Wired  

Q fever, we’re told, is sweeping the nation. The highest-polling statement was “Democratic politicians and Hollywood stars are part of a global network that tortures and sexually abuses children in Satanic rituals”—62 percent of QAnon supporters rated it as definitely or probably true. The other three QAnon theories polled—Trump is preparing mass arrests, Mueller was secretly ordered by Trump to …

Facebook institutes sweeping ban on QAnon. Will it work?
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook institutes sweeping ban on QAnon. Will it work?

LA Times  

In this Aug. 2, 2018 photo, David Reinert holding a Q sign waits in line with others to enter a campaign rally with President Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. In a Tuesday blog post, Facebook said that although QAnon posts may not directly promote violence, they are often nonetheless linked to “different forms of real world harm.” The company cited a …

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous

Al Jazeera  

Company begins removing Facebook groups, pages and Instagram accounts associated with the conspiracy theory movement. Facebook has classified the QAnon conspiracy theory movement as dangerous and began removing Facebook groups and pages as well as Instagram accounts that hold themselves out as representatives. Since the August restrictions, some QAnon groups have added members, and others used coded language to evade …

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown

The Hindu  

Facebook and Twitter promised to stop encouraging the growth of the baseless conspiracy theory QAnon, which fashions President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and government officials, after it reached an audience of millions on their platforms this year. But the social media companies still aren’t enforcing even the limited restrictions they’ve …

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — Facebook and Twitter promised to stop encouraging the growth of the baseless conspiracy theory QAnon, which fashions President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and government officials, after it reached an audience of millions on their platforms this year. One post that used the QAnon hashtag, which raked up nearly …

Op-Ed: Facebook drove QAnon’s mad growth and enhanced its power to poison elections
4 years, 2 months ago

Op-Ed: Facebook drove QAnon’s mad growth and enhanced its power to poison elections

LA Times  

A supporter of QAnon conspiracy theory at a rally for President Trump in 2018. Internet platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube and Twitter have provided the algorithmic amplification to drive QAnon from the fringes into the mainstream. When Trump posts a message on Twitter and Facebook that implies support for QAnon, algorithms give it maximum reach because it grabs …

Discover Related