Kelly Weill is a reporter at The Daily Beast where she covers disinformation, the far right, and internet culture. She is currently at work on a book about the Flat Earth movement, forthcoming from Algonquin Books.
Conspiratorial health movements and Coronavirus misinformation can contain seemingly sound arguments, because they ground themselves in real experiences. Conspiracy theories use sexism and social status to monger fear into hateful internet mobs-- as seen with QAnon and Gamergate which Kelly has covered. She reports that most conspiracy pages have lured many into an extreme belief through more moderate subjects. Some flat-earthers have been referencing anti-semitic materials or scapegoating people of color without factual correlation.
Check out Kelly's article about Flat Earth:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-flat-earth-conference-where-the-worlds-oldest-conspiracy-theory-is-hot-again
Stay tuned, Before You Go: Rachel defines 'conspiracy theories' and how they rely on providing the answer to an unknown question or enemy. She warns of some to watch out for.
Read about a successful miracle cure whose solution contained bleach -- covered by Kelly Weill:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/alan-keyes-is-helping-sell-a-toxic-bleach-cure-miracle-mineral-solution-to-the-vulnerable-and-desperate
