One Dumb Conspiracy

One Dumb Conspiracy is a weekly column that debunks conspiracy theories that are swirling around the internet that runs on Mondays in the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. If you want to read this column before everyone else, sign up for the newsletter here.

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Are you being tracked by microchips in your cheese?

Conspiracy theorists are sounding the alarm, but the story isn't as nefarious as they claim.

On Nov 21, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Houston chemical plant conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theorists are already calling the Texas chemical plant explosion suspicious

The facts, of course, show no evidence whatsoever of a secret foreign sabotage,

On Nov 14, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

The Ukrainian and Russian flags are placed on a map of Europe

No, Russia didn’t just crush Ukraine’s ‘Adrenochrome cartel’

On Oct 31, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Hillary Clinton and a reptilian statue

Conspiracy theorists think a ‘reptilian’ statue symbolizes the Clinton’s child trafficking empire

Discussions have appeared on sites such as TikTok, where users describe the statue as evil.

On Oct 17, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

man speaking with caption 'MARBERG VIRUS IS BAKED INTO THE SHOTS AND WILL BE ACTIVATED' (l) man speaking with caption 'BY THREE ONE MINUTE PULSE WAVES AT 18 GIGAHERTZ FROM THE 5G' (c) man speaking with caption 'TOWERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY' (r)

Vaccinated? Conspiracy theorists think you’ll turn into a zombie this week

The absurd conspiracy theory is circulating on social media.

On Oct 3, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Newsmax host says Aaron Rodgers injury caused by choosing psychedelics over God

It goes without saying that the insinuations are totally baseless.

On Sep 19, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

man in hat pointing at article in background

No, the military didn’t arrest a FEMA employee over ‘mass grave site’ in Hawaii

One video about the conspiracy theory was viewed 3.3 million times.

On Sep 6, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Barack Obama in front of American Flag background (l) Tafari Campbell speaking in front of doorway (r)

Conspiracy theorists think Obama murdered his personal chef

None of the claims being made are backed up by any evidence.

On Aug 8, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Baltimore Maryland festival attendees swatting mosquitoes with captions 'Helicopter released deadly mosquitoes in Baltimore, MD AFRAM 2023 Baltimore I can't believe yall did us dirty and released those bugs on us' (l) mosquito sucking blood in front of green background (c) Baltimore Maryland festival attendees swatting mosquitoes with captions 'Helicopter released deadly mosquitoes in Baltimore, MD AFRAM 2023 Baltimore I can't believe yall did us dirty and released those bugs on us' (r)

Conspiracy theorists think government dropped deadly mosquitos on music festival

None of the accusations being made are even remotely true.

On Jul 25, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Atom Bomb exploded over Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. World War 2

Conspiracy theorists now think nuclear bombs are fake

Such absurd claims are easily debunked.

On Jul 11, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Mel Gibson in front of blue background

The QAnon crowd thinks Mel Gibson is set to expose the ‘elite’ with human trafficking documentary

None of it is true.

On Jun 27, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking in front of red background (l) Elon Musk speaking in front of dark background (c) Tucker Carlson speaking in front of blurry brown background (r)

Conspiracy theorists think Ukraine demanded that Elon Musk delete Tucker Carlson’s Twitter

Ukraine has made no such demand.

On Jun 13, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

hand in blue glove taking pellets of ammonium nitrate from bag

Conspiracy theorists twist facts around missing ammonium nitrate to push false flag claims

A quick glance at the facts surrounding the incident shows how the conspiracy theory is false.

On May 30, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

young Mark Zuckerberg with Katy Perry

Conspiracy theorists think this photo shows Katy Perry ‘grooming’ a young Mark Zuckerberg

There is just one problem with the claim: Zuckerberg and Perry are the same age.

On May 16, 2023 by Mikael Thalen

Internet Culture

Buckingham Palace London, UK with crowd

No, a naked man held by the Royal family didn’t escape Buckingham Palace

The video exploded on Twitter last week.

On May 2, 2023 by Mikael Thalen