Read on Twitter
1/ "More than 1 in 3 Americans believe a ‘deep state’ is working to undermine Trump: NPR/Ipsos poll finds widespread concerns about the spread of false information, despite some believing in COVID-19 and QAnon-related conspiracies" https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/npr-misinformation-123020
2/ The study is found as part of this NPR story from today "Even If It's 'Bonkers,' Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories" https://www.npr.org/2020/12/30/951095644/even-if-its-bonkers-poll-finds-many-believe-qanon-and-other-conspiracy-theories
3/ Key finding 1 is that 83% of Americans are concerned about the spread of false information around COVID. 80% are concerned about vaccine disinfo, 69% are concerned information on social media is not accurate, 67% believe that false information stems from foreign interference
4/ What these number highlight is that the majority of Americans are concerned about false information and highlights the vulnerability of our information systems (not only digital ones). The polarization of our information systems creates a lack of trust.
5/ similarly it also reflects a loss of trust in these information systems, as well as experts that speak about specific issues (COVID in this case), if there was trust in the experts that discussed this information trust would be higher but polarization creates a vulnerability
6/ The concern is about where the information is coming from: i.e. sources on the opposite end of the political spectrum. Media sources have been scapegoated and become political weapons. Thus it is about if a source if left or right, not if the information is right or wrong.
7/ The study also found that there are "signs that misinformation, most prominently around COVID-19,
QAnon, and recent Black Lives Matter protests, is becoming more mainstream. "
QAnon, and recent Black Lives Matter protests, is becoming more mainstream. "
8/ Here is how the Question was formulated: What i find interesting is that 23% of Republican found this to be true, but 13% of Dems and 12% of independents also found this to be true....
9/ This begs the questions do democrats believe in the QAnon conspiracy and if so are their beliefs in it the same as their republican leaning counterparts, and what are they doing with their beliefs (is it only only shit posting or are they also mobilizing)?
10/ Additionally 39% of Americans believes that there is a deep state working to undermine Trump. I would challenge the IPSOS statement that though this is an elements in the QAnon ideology, it is not unique to QAnon and predates QAnon as well.
11/ 69% accept the election results and 70% want a smooth and peaceful transition, which means 30% do not which is a number I find concerning. This is also reflected in those that were pooled who are also concerned about political violence in the next four years
12/ Ultimately, what I find from this is that the US is still a polarized country even with a different admin, which doesn't surprise me but should be something that is highlighted as the inauguration of Biden will not magically make everything better.
13/ Additionally, 17% who believe "A group of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring are trying to control our politics and media " is probably the best questioned asked about QAnon in a poll so far, but again its a random online poll so not hard evidence.
14/ Nevertheless I think this is a good pulse check but not something to make magical claims with.
