Thomas Huchon, an investigative journalist specializing in fake news and conspiracy theories, regularly appears in various media outlets, including on Instagram @antifakenewsAI. He is also the author of AntiFake News, an essential read for distinguishing truth from falsehood in today’s overwhelming flow of information. In this interview, Thomas shares his insights on how fake news is created, disseminated, and how it impacts our lives.
How is fake news created and spread?
Thomas Huchon: “The creation of fake news follows specific rules. It’s like a recipe: you need ingredients, quantities, mix it all together, and there you have it.”
To begin, let’s remember that fake news always involves three key elements: a sender (the creator of the fake news), a receiver (the audience) and a distribution channel (the platform or media used).
- Strategic choice of theme: Fake news creators target sensitive or polarizing topics that resonate with the public’s fears, beliefs, or frustrations. These narratives are designed to align with and reinforce the existing beliefs of a specific audience, leveraging confirmation bias to increase their chances of being accepted and shared. Sometimes acting insidiously, they offer simplistic solutions to complex problems and often designate a scapegoat, which heightens their emotional impact and boosts their virality.
- Mix of truth and lies: Fake news skilfully combines verified facts or credible elements (such as images or data taken out of context) with falsehoods to appear legitimate.
- Engaging narratives: Fake news often tells intriguing; memorable stories designed to grab attention and evoke strong reactions.
- Exploitation of cognitive biases: Fake news relies on psychological mechanisms that deeply influence how we process information, including cognitive disruption.
- Attention economy: In a world where attention is a limited resource, fake news are specifically designed to evoke strong emotions (fear, fascination, indignation) and quickly capture interest. They capitalize on our tendency to simplify or respond emotionally to information, thereby maximizing their impact. Sensationalist headlines, shocking images, and triggering phrases encourage clicks and shares, weakening our ability to think critically. This carefully orchestrated manipulation of attention is one of the cornerstones of fake news virality and significantly amplifies their power to spread disinformation on a large scale.
- Dunning-Kruger effect: People with little knowledge often overestimate their understanding of a subject, making them more vulnerable to simplistic narratives. Fake news is appealing because it offers easy solutions to complex problems, enhancing its persuasive power.
Thomas Huchon: “Fake news spreads by tapping into existing societal beliefs. The rise of digital platforms has transformed how we consume information, and recent announcements by Mark Zuckerberg about the removal of external fact-checking and some moderation efforts are very bad news for for the fight against them.”
- Viral dissemination strategy of fake News: Fake news are strategically distributed through tailored channels such as social media, community groups, or blogs to maximize their reach and virality. With the explosion of digital usage, an increasing portion of the population (information receivers) is now exposed to these deceptive narratives, as platforms reach massive and diverse audiences. This spread is further amplified by algorithms that prioritize emotional and engaging content, like fake news, making them go viral quickly through the reactions they generate (likes, shares, comments).
- Exploitation of verification delays: Fake news spread very quickly, often before experts or fact-checkers can intervene, leaving a lasting impression on people’s minds.
Examples of fake news
Thomas Huchon: “Some fake news seemed so ridiculous to me that I predicted they would fail to gain traction… yet they achieved unexpected reach! These theories continue to find an audience.”
Some notable examples he cites include:
- Flat Earth theory: Despite centuries of scientific evidence, this theory claims the Earth is flat.
- Chemtrails: The idea that airplane contrails are chemical or biological agents released by governments.
- Reptilian theory: This suggests that extraterrestrial reptilian beings live among us and secretly control the planet by infiltrating positions of power.
Thomas Huchon: “What’s incredible is that it works: many people buy into these ideas, and these theories resurface repeatedly, like the famous example of Project Blue Beam.”
- Project Blue Beam: Theorized by Serge Monast, a Canadian journalist and author known for his conspiratorial writings, the Blue Beam Project describes a secret plan allegedly orchestrated by governments and other powerful groups to impose a global religion. This plan is said to rely on the deliberate creation of collective panic situations, such as natural disasters or fires, to instill fear among the population and facilitate this ideological transition on a global scale.
- For instance, recent fires in Hawaii, Valparaiso, and Los Angeles have been attributed to imaginary laser beams controlled by the CIA. Some proponents even claim that blue objects remain unburned, leading to scrutiny of debris for untouched blue items. A widely circulated photo online shows a blue trash can left intact in front of actor John Goodman’s burned-down house. In Chile, some residents painted their roofs blue, believing it would protect their homes from flames.
Thomas Huchon: “Other fake news has struck me, especially for personal reasons, such as those related to Charlie Hebdo or the ‘Great Replacement’ theory, which exacerbate social tensions.”
Impacts and consequences of fake news
Thomas Huchon: “The existence of false narratives breaks an essential societal bond: trust. Without trust, there is no democracy.”
- Real-world violence: Fake news can shake individuals’ beliefs, pushing them into irrational behaviour. For example, L. Carrillo, an American mother, admitted to drowning her three children to “protect” them from an imaginary pedophile network, inspired by conspiracy theories. This tragedy highlights how these toxic narratives manipulate vulnerable individuals, driving them to commit irreversible acts under the influence of unfounded beliefs.
- Reputational damage: Fake news also impacts both public and private entities. For example, brands like Cristaline have been targeted by baseless rumors claiming their water is dangerous.
Advice for young people facing fake news
Thomas Huchon: “Educate yourself, stay informed—it’s essential. And beware of what you’re inclined to believe. Adults also have a major responsibility: protecting young people.”
- Since 2021, China has already restricted access for minors and requires identification via an official ID document. Children under 14 are limited to a maximum of 40 minutes per day on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), and the online gaming time for children and teenagers is also restricted.
- At the end of 2024, Australia banned access to social media for young people under the age of 16. This measure was implemented to mitigate the risks of social media on the mental and physical health of young people. Consequently, it also serves as a way to protect them from misinformation and harmful content.
Conclusion
Thomas Huchon: “Beware of what you want to believe.”
Fake news are not just misleading narratives; they pose a significant challenge to our societies, jeopardizing trust, social cohesion, and even lives at times. As Thomas Huchon points out, critical thinking and education remain our best tools to combat these manipulations. However, this responsibility falls on everyone: to educate, protect the younger generations, and constantly question what we instinctively want to believe.
