The recent release of new documents related to Jeffrey Epstein has reignited many popular conspiracy theories. Across multiple social media platforms, users have begun to theorize what each of the released files could mean and how they could be used as evidence to prove past assumptions. Some of the theories claimed that the files proved the government was hiding information. Other users claimed the media was using the files as a distraction against an even bigger thing to protect those in power.
Even though some of these theories lack evidence, they still spread quickly. For many young people, seeing information online is enough to count it as credible. Social media has started to become a main news source for many teenagers, where they’ll begin to believe a claim because it has a lot of likes or because it has gone viral, rather than verifying the claim.
“People believe conspiracy theories a little bit more when they’re online. People just trust what they see,” Willow Carpenter (10, J&C) said.
This creates an environment where teens, who are soon to be voters, are more likely to enter discussions about politics based on claims they found online rather than verified information.
“When you’re getting your news from social media, you’re not necessarily vetting the validity of what you’re receiving, now anybody can put something forward, and oftentimes they’re amplified, not by their reputation or their acumen, but simply because of their popularity,” Tim Holman (Social Studies) said.
While the Epstein files didn’t start conspiratorial thinking, they helped to fuel past conspiracy theories and bring rise to new ones, adding fuel to an environment where false information is being spread to the minds of future voters.
“Because there’s a lot of incomplete information, people are conflating things that are accusations versus things that are proven and it’s created a problematic atmosphere for analysis,” Holman said.
This pattern has existed for decades. Major political and violent events are often followed by conspiracy theories. After the assasination of John F. Kennedy, many people began to have doubts about the government’s account of the event and began making conspiracy theories about how the CIA or the Mafia was involved because government officials were angry over the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Conspiracy theories about 9/11 and mass shootings have also fueled claims that the government secretly staged these events and allowed violence in order to justify policy changes, like increased surveillance or restriction on gun rights.
Many of these theories are built on distrust in government officials, and these ideas are pushed throughout different social media platforms. For teens who are looking to get into news or keeping up with current events, the spread of fake news can seriously affect their political views or future voting opinions.
“There’s just kind of a bandwagon that forms when people create conspiracy theories because then it’s like, okay, these people believe this, so maybe they’re right because this many people believe,” Carpenter said.
Studies have shown that young people are more likely than adults to believe conspiracy theories, especially because they’re still developing their political views and learning the difference between different media outlets. Social media algorithms that promote the spread of conspiracy theories and fake news can worsen this by continuously pushing the same content, and reinforcing the same ideas.
“People have a natural inclination toward conspiracy because it provides a much easier example or easier answer to oftentimes really complicated outcomes,” Holman said.
As more teens begin to approach voting age, their understanding of politics has become influenced by exaggerated or false claims found online rather than verified information, making it harder for them to form their own informed opinions or be able to meaningfully take part in political discussions. The online reaction to the Epstein files show how quickly serious issues can turn into speculation online, and the importance of fact checking conspiracy theories found online.
