Contrary to popular belief, young people under 35 are the most likely demographic group to believe in conspiracy theories. The lack of representative of young people in the political system is one of the factors.
Conspiracy theories are a widespread occurrence in today’s hyperconnected and polarized world.
Events such as Brexit, US presidential elections of 2016 and 2020, and Covid-19 pandemic serve as powerful reminders of the ease with which these narratives can infiltrate the public discourse.
The consequences for society are significant, since devotion to conspiracy theories can undermine fundamental and weaken citizens’ trust in critical institutions. As we know by the January 6 riot in the US capitol, this can also motivate political violence.
But who is most likely to believe in these conspiracies?
A new from Ottawa University provides a clear and perhaps surprising response. Published in the Psychological Magazine Psychology, the investigation shows that age is one of the most significant predictors of conspiracy beliefs, but not the way many could suppose.
As People under 35 years They are consistently more likely to support conspiracy ideas.
This conclusion is based on a solid basis of evidence. Firstly, a meta-analysis was made, a “Study Study”, which synthesized the results of 191 pairs-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024.
This huge data set, which included More than 374 000 participantsrevealed a strong association between young age and belief in conspiracies.
To confirm, the authors performed their own original multinational inquiry with More than 6000 people in six countries Different: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, US and South Africa.
The results were the same. In fact, the age has been revealed a predictor More powerful from conspiracy beliefs than any other demographic factor they have measured, including gender, performance or level of education.
Why are young people more conspiratorial?
1. Political alienation
One of the most powerful factors identified is a deep feeling of political dissatisfaction among young people.
Most young people are alienated from political systems managed by politicians two or three older generations than they.
This sub-representation can lead to frustration and the feeling that democracy is not working for them. In this context, conspiracy theories offer a simple and convincing explanation for this disconnection: the system is not only failing, but is also being secretly controlled and manipulated by harmful actors.
2. Participation activist style
The way young people choose to participate in politics also play a significant role.
Although they may be less likely to engage in traditional practices, such as vote, they often get greatly involved in unconventional forms of participation, as Protests, Boicotes and Campaigns Online.
These activist environments, particularly online, can become fertile ground for the germination and dissemination of conspiracy theories. They are often based on similar narratives of “us against them,” which place an “fair” internal group against a “corrupt” stablishment.
3. Low self -esteem
Finally, the investigation confirmed a crucial psychological connection with self -esteem.
For individuals with low perception of self -esteem, believe in a conspiracy theory – blaming the external and hidden forces for their problems – can be a way of dealing with feelings of impotence.
This is particularly relevant to young people. Research has long been showing that self -esteem tends to be smaller in youth, before increasing constantly with age.
What can be done?
Understanding these causes is essential because it shows that simply unmasking false allegations is not a sufficient solution.
To really address the increase in conspiracy theories and limit its consequences, we need address underlying questions that make these narratives so attractive.
Given the role played by political alienation, a fundamental step is to make our democracies more representative.
When working actively to increase the presence of young people in our political institutions, we can help them have faith that the system can work For them, reducing the appeal of theories that claim it hopelessly corrupt.
Most inclusive democracy
This does not mean discouraging the passion for youth activism. Instead, it is about empowering young people with the tools needed to browse the current informative complex.
Promoting solid media education and digital literacy can help individuals critically evaluate the information they find in all circles, including online activist spaces.
The connection with self -esteem also points to a broader social responsibility.
By investing in the mental health and well-being of young people, we can help increase psychological resilience and the sense of autonomy, which makes them less vulnerable to the simplistic games of guilt offered by conspiracy theories.
Ultimately, build a Society resistant to misinformation It does not mean finding defects in a specific generation.
It is about creating a stronger and more inclusive democracy, where all citizens, especially young people, feel represented, empowered and safe.
