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One-in-Six Americans Have Heard of QAnon (Pew Research, 2019)
webCredibility Rating
4/5
High(4)High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.
Rating inherited from publication venue: Pew Research Center
Tangentially relevant to AI safety as a case study in how misinformation spreads online, useful for discussions of AI-amplified disinformation risks and the social harms of algorithmic content curation.
Metadata
Importance: 28/100news articleanalysis
Summary
A 2019 Pew Research survey finding that approximately one in six Americans had heard of the QAnon conspiracy theory at the time, with awareness varying significantly by age, education, and political affiliation. The study provides an early baseline measurement of conspiracy theory spread before QAnon became a major mainstream phenomenon.
Key Points
- •About 17% of Americans reported having heard of QAnon as of mid-2019, well before its peak mainstream visibility.
- •Awareness was higher among Republicans, older adults, and those who consume more online news.
- •Most who had heard of QAnon viewed it negatively or were uncertain, suggesting early mainstream skepticism.
- •The data illustrates how fringe conspiracy theories can achieve significant reach through online information ecosystems.
- •Serves as a baseline for tracking the subsequent explosive growth of QAnon awareness and belief.
Cited by 1 page
| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Accelerated Reality Fragmentation | Risk | 28.0 |
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