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With @CraigKellyMP in the news for spreading disinformation about #COVID19 vaccines, it's worth remembering that he is just one small player in a global disinformation and conspiracist community (THREAD 1/6) #auspol
I examined this issue in this recent blog post, reviewing an appearance by one of the world's most prolific conspiracy theorists, Alex Jones, on the world's most popular podcast hosted by @joerogan https://joerebuttal.substack.com/p/1555-alex-jones-and-tim-dillon #auspol #COVID19 #BidenTakeAction (2/6)
What seem to most people like disconnected issue are all seen as part of a global elite conspiracy by Kelly, Jones and co. If someone believes Covid is a hoax, you can be sure they will also think climate change is too, and that QAnon have some good points. (3/6)
They operate online in closed and semi-closed communities on Facebook and elsewhere, and publish their 'findings' on their public accounts. Some, like Alex Jones, have been banned on mainstream platforms. Others, like Kelly, still live on Twitter and Facebook. (4/6)
Crucially, the outrage they generate means their posts are some of the most engaged with, and therefore the most pushed up the News Feed by Facebook's algorithm, so their audience continues to grow. (5/6) https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberal-mp-craig-kelly-outperforms-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-on-facebook-20200109-p53q5n.html #auspol
It's important to understand how this system works, and there are many people that do great analysis of it out there. But don't feed the trolls. Don't directly comment on or share their posts: it just gives them a bigger audience. (6/6) #auspol
