Condemn QAnon.
It's Thursday and there are 26 days until the election! We've written briefly about QAnon in the past, but as conspiracy theories grow it's important we note the rapid rise of QAnon and how we can take action in our own communities. This is a call to stay in the work, and be diligent on what you read and share – especially on social media.
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Have tough conversations with friends that are sharing resources similar to those referenced in this article. This Teen Vogue article offers tips for effective conversations >
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By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)
As misinformation and conspiracy theories reach a peak over the past week, there’s been heightened scrutiny on the role that QAnon plays in the conversations we see dominate social media. In response, on Tuesday, Facebook announced a blanket ban on any pages, groups, and Instagram accounts representing QAnon from its platforms (The Verge).
Although the company had cracked down on accounts and groups earlier this summer, the move was criticized for being insufficient. Its latest action is arguably the strongest stance Facebook has taken to block harmful and misleading information from the social network. And it’s long overdue; Twitter committed to banning QAnon related content back in July (Daily Beast), and Reddit banned the main subreddit for QAnon conspiracy theorists over two years ago (Washington Post). Etsy joined in solidarity by removing all QAnon-related products from its platform (The Verge). It’s important to note that, despite these actions, QAnon content is still rampant on all platforms, although perhaps harder to find.
QAnon is a far-right conspiracy group. Read more about its origins via CBS News. Its main message is that Democratic politicians and high-ranking supporters from media and entertainment are running a child sex-trafficking ring and “plotting to take control of American government and society” and that our only hope is Donald Trump, who is actually running a shadow campaign to get them out, referred to as the “Storm” (New Yorker). Other conspiracies include that COVID-19 is a hoax, 5G mobile phone masts cause cancer, and elites use the pandemic to monitor and control people (CNN). This may read more like a low-budget Netflix show than reality, but it’s unfortunately believed. Early uprisings of this organization, including events like Pizzagate and Gamergate, have swelled to today, where the FBI has warned that QAnon was becoming a potential domestic terrorism threat (Washington Post).
There have been specific instances where QAnon has spread racist rhetoric. Some of its followers display neo-Nazi symbolism and echo the conspiracy theory that the Holocaust never happened (CNN). It has spread misinformation that systemic racism is a psychological operation to maintain control and that funds gathered for Black Lives Matter chapters were misappropriated, often for Democratic political gain (Media Matters). And over the summer, it hijacked the #SaveTheChildren hashtag to spread misinformation on child abuse and child trafficking, centering the story on kids – and often, kids wearing masks – being stolen from their homes and sold into sex trafficking. In reality, child trafficking usually takes the form of forced labor or wage theft in agriculture or domestic work. It happens to vulnerable, marginalized kids – often children of color – that are houseless, in unstable housing, or foster homes (Vox). It also failed to mention the abuse children face in immigration detention centers across the U.S. (Washington Post). This isn’t directly racist, but many advocates emphasize that it has caused more harm than good.
QAnon is far from a movement. As of October 2020, 7% of Americans believe in or support QAnon (Civiqs), which is significant, but certainly not substantial. What’s more interesting is that roughly 20% of Americans believe that at least one of the main conspiracy theories linked to QAnon is probably true (Pew Research). So although QAnon isn’t close to taking over the world, there are certainly enough people that are capable of sharing misleading information that supports its more radical goals.
And these people aren’t radical, either. By reading through a series of powerful reporting from various outlets, you may recognize some of these supporters. They’re mothers on Facebook (Teen Vogue), fathers who have entertained harmless conspiracy theories in the past (Narratively). Wellness practitioners have shared QAnon content on their Instagram (NYTimes), where aesthetically-pleasing quotes and images have helped content spread (The Atlantic). And based on the sharable nature of social media, it’s likely many of us have even liked or reposted something we didn’t realize was attached to QAnon related content.
But that doesn’t mean we should discredit how quickly this misinformation spreads. Beyond what was mentioned before, this misinformation may encourage people not to wear masks or get needed medical help, choose not to participate in the election, or discredit people in need and the communities they represent. With so many misleading stories and allegations in the news today, particularly related to politics, we must try to maintain some semblance of what’s real and what’s manufactured.
Like many things on social media, people start subscribing to QAnon through word of mouth. A conversation can spark interest, and a conversation can end it. The next time you see someone participating in sharing this harmful content, reach out. You can help dismantle racial and anti-semitic stereotypes, save and protect lives from the global pandemic.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The harmful rhetoric of QAnon is being blocked on major social networks, most recently Facebook
QAnon has actively contributed to anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric seen in society today
Many people share content related to QAnon by what they learn from their communities
RELATED ISSUES
10/1/2020 | Vote Trump out of office.
7/28/2020 | Denounce anti-Semitism.
6/30/2020 | Boycott as a form of protest.
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