While most research on conspiracy theory dissemination focuses on beliefs in and support for conspiracy theories, limited work has explored why people share conspiracy theories, particularly when they oppose them. Using natural language processing and content analysis, we examined 71,003 retweet comments on 136 conspiracy theory-related tweets across six themes posted between 2018 and 2024. Among other things, findings show that while a majority share conspiracy theories because they support them, a substantial minority shares conspiracy theories they oppose. The underlying reasons are to warn others, correct misinformation, or express emotions such as ridicule or frustration. The prevalence of this behavior varies across different conspiracy theories. These results complicate common assumptions about retweeting and suggest that even opposition can contribute to the amplification of conspiracy theories. Understanding these distinct motivations is crucial for developing more targeted strategies to mitigate the dissemination of conspiracy theories and foster healthier information environments.
Gao et al. (Thu,) studied this question.