T
his year, we have had to protect ourselves not only from a deadly virus, but also from some very dangerous ideas. Around the world, conspiracy theories have flourished, claiming that the virus is everything from a hostile attack, a hoax perpetuated by Big Pharma, or even a side effect of 5G networks. And while these theories may seem ridiculous, they can cause serious harm. Belief in these views undermines people’s trust in established organizations and tested, scientific solutions, and can lead to destructive behavior such as rejecting medical recommendations in favor of unproven treatments, or burning cell towers out of fear of 5G technology.
