The Internet is the New Cult Recruiter
Some are getting caught up in disturbing conspiracy theories much like joining dangerous cults
A couple of weeks ago, it seemed the QAnon conspiracy theories could not get any more scarier.
Already dismissed by many as far-fetched and dangerous, some QAnon believers took their beliefs a step forward by heading to Dallas to witness the return of a major figure in American history. That being, the ghost or the long hidden John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. President, or his late son, John F. Kennedy Jr. Either or.
By appearing before QAnon believers, this ghost or reemergence of either JFK Jr. or his father was going to confirm once and for all that Donald Trump truly won the 2020 election. That, or he would run again for 2024 election, and JFK Jr. would be his running mate. Either or, it was something these QAnon believers were eagerly anticipating.
No really, they were. According to the Washington Post, scores gathered at the AT&T Discovery Plaza, where President Kennedy was shot 58 years ago, and waited. And when nothing happened, many headed over to a nearby Rolling Stones concert, thinking either Kennedy would make his appearance there.
This all sounds like something out of satire or a parody comedy skit. But it is all real; the people are real and the events are real. And it all gets more disturbing when some of these QAnon followers turned to their leader to figure out what to do next.
This leader, Michael Protzman, who is not the one who originally spread the QAnon conspiracy theory, has been telling his followers to “prepare for the next phase”. Keep in mind, that about 30 of his followers are still hanging around Dallas, apparently getting sick with COVID19. It also has been reported that some of these members have abandoned their families and given thousands to Protzman in order to save trafficked children and save America. It also doesn’t help that there is a widely shared video between Protzman, known as Negative48 online, and some of his followers, talking about dying a physical death to witness the truth.
Sounds like a cult, right? A big time, dangerous cult. And Protzman is the cult leader, with a history of violence, including assaulting his wife back in 2019. So the followers and leader have the DNA of a cult.
Yet, this cult didn’t come around through word of mouth or someone recruiting people on their own, face-to-face. It all came from the Internet, via social media. The widespread misinformation, conspiracy theories and lies has lead to people believing unfounded but bizarre and outrageous beliefs that are causing harm to others. From abandoning their children to even murdering them because of what QAnon teaches, to hinting of mass suicide which is something previous cults have done before (Jonestown, the Branch Davidians of Waco, Heaven’s Gate), this version of QAnon (which most QAnon followers denounce) is sure showing signs of being a cult, and it all began via the Internet.
Usually cult leaders are able to attract followers by being charismatic through appearance and speech; Charles Manson was known for that. Cult leaders are known for taking advantage of those lost and looking for a sense of belonging; this is how such people end up with terrorist groups, sex traffickers, and abusive people in general. Cult leaders also have a knack for knowing how people think and function, and just how to manipulate that for their agenda.
Even though cult leaders are not preaching on sidewalks (as the leader of the Japanese cult behind the Tokyo sarin attack in 1995 did to recruit followers) they are preaching via the Internet. And I also don’t mean cult as in a religious organization; cults can be political, wellness-oriented, sex-oriented, and so on (however, this article from The Conversation points out that the word “cult” is just one of the many overused words these days). Anyway, people can get caught up in cult-like beliefs just by reading blogs online, watching YouTube videos, following social media accounts and so on. Basically, going down the rabbit hole and losing all rationale.
It seems like the Internet in general has allowed more people to be sucked into the world of dangerous conspiracy theories by the power of seductive colors and sounds, commanding voices that can be heard anywhere at anytime, carefully chosen words that strike at the heart of many people’s fears and anxieties. And then comes social media where these sources can be shared widely and frequently. You don’t even need your crazy cousin or friend to rant to you; you can just read or see for yourself and you can sucked in too. Better yet, studies have shown false information are more widely shared on Twitter than facts, and these are done by real people and not bots. Also, let’s not forget the ever present algorithm, feeding people’s near addiction to these theories for the sake of keeping them on the platform. That’s what happened to these QAnon believers up in Wisconsin.
So with people following conspiracy theories to the point of following cult-like leaders thanks to the Internet, what are we to do? Sure, media literacy is more important than ever. But it appears more - a lot more - needs to be done. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
I’ll continue with this topic next time.
Until then, feel free to discuss this week’s topic in the comments section below.
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