Amna Nawaz
Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos

How social media supercharges conspiracy theories

Posted

March 24, 2025

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The recent release of a trove of documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is a subject that's long been fertile ground for conspiracy theories.

But where do these firm — and unsubstantiated — beliefs that give way to conspiracy theories come from? And how do they spread? PBS News’ John Yang spoke with science writer David Robert Grimes to find out.

“There’s always been conspiracy theories. They have existed as long as humans have recorded history,” Grimes told Yang.

“At times when things are uncertain or people are afraid, conspiracy theories, they proliferate more wildly.”

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President John F KennedyPBS News John YangDavid Robert GrimesYang AtWatch PBS NewsPBS News HourPBS NewsTikTok X Instagram Facebook

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How social media supercharges conspiracy theories · Amna Nawaz · Sentinel