Grandmothers and QAnon on Facebook

Summerlove - it is indeed.

Many of the people I see sharing these things on my feeds are educated, smart people who would be horrified to realise that sharing a position on stronger immigration controls or a more conservative press is actually linked to these crackpot conspiracy theories!

I’m U.K. based, so although our political divide is worsening with rise of populism, I dread to think what sort of impact this is having in America.

Recently I’ve had to explain to my dad about algorithms etc on Facebook due to this very issue - he must have engaged with a few political things which meant he was getting a lot of right wing biased articles etc showing on his feed which were upsetting his old socialist principles! It took a while but he won’t be hitting “like” with the same gusto for a while!

It’s very insidious, isn’t it Lolo81?

Iam64 - totally agree.
The stereotyping of “British Grannies” aside, the article does raise alarming points.
I have seen many Qanon based memes/articles shared by many of my “friends” on social media which pick up on one point such as immigration, ecomonic power etc, which are disguised as political rhetoric (with no blatantly obvious link back to Qanon). When one then goes down the rabbit hole of following the narrative shared, that’s when you eventually hit on pizzagate and lizard people. However, at first glance many of it simply appears as far left or more often far right political point scoring.

The terrifying fact that some people may not be aware that a simple “like” on SM about a political issue they may (on the surface) agree with will then adapt the stories/memes/articles which are shown to them on their feed is worrying.

Unless you live on a rock in the middle of an ocean, you are influenced by something or somebody.

Urmstongran

I’ve never joined Facebook. No interest in it.

So I’ve not been influenced by it. On any topic.
?

But not being on Facebook doesn't make you immune from its influence - that's the point! It's become mainstream and is part of people's general conversation and is creeping into the mainstream news outlets.

I’ve never joined Facebook. No interest in it.

So I’ve not been influenced by it. On any topic.
?

M0nica

Where does one begin with the offensiveness of this link? It is outrageous.

To start with 'British Grannies' used by so many researchers like this as a euphomism for 'stupid old women' Too scared to say it out right but this what he means. Note this is all coming from a 'he' who, I suspect knows very few older women, to find out what they actually believe.

So som older women are right wing conspiracy theorists. How do their numbers compare with men between 15 - 60 who are conspiracy theorists. I would lay money that conspiracy theorists are much more numerous in absolute and percentage terms in that group than it is among older women.

The big Anti-COVID demonstration this weekend was led by Piers Corbyn (Jeremy's brother) and David Icke (remember him?), not by any 'British Grannies'

It was actually organised by somebody called Kate Shemirani, who is a 54 years old former nurse and could be a granny for all I know.

IMO the "snowflake" outrage about British grannies is a distraction from the real message.

Alegrias

janeainsworth

The researcher is not from York University, she is from York St John university, a completely different institution. Seeing as we're talking about gullible people, maybe we should get our facts right

My apologies Alegrias, I stand corrected.
I assumed that the ‘St John’ referred to a college of the University of York.
Nevertheless the institution seems to have a long history, awarding external degrees from the University of Leeds for many years before becoming autonomous, so I think the criticisms of the article are still valid.

Oh, not complaining about the criticism at all janeainswirth, I just spotted the fact it wasn't York University and thought it was worth pointing it out. DH used to be a lecturer at York so I didn't want them falsely accused

Back in the day ... I think York St John was a teacher training college, but has now achieved university status, as so many did. It's not some dodgy college.

Callistemon

^A researcher from York University believes that ‘British grannies’ are helping to spread QAnon conspiracy theories on Facebook^

Stereotyping without any real facts or statistics to back up the theory.

It is yet another conspiracy theory.

No, it's not another conspiracy theory.

I agree with Iam64 that the offence at "British grannies" is irrelevant.

Callistemon It's well documented elsewhere and is happening.

I think the comment about British grannies was because the author was surprised at the demographic profile of the people who were tracked (admittedly not that many). I don't think the idea is that an army of middle-aged and elderly women has somehow become mobilised. Maybe it was a wake-up call to the author about stereotypes of women of a certain age.

But that's beside the point! QAnon is not another conspiracy theory!

DH used to be a lecturer at York so I didn't want them falsely accused
?I wondered if you had some connection Alegrias

janeainsworth

^The researcher is not from York University, she is from York St John university, a completely different institution. Seeing as we're talking about gullible people, maybe we should get our facts right^

My apologies Alegrias, I stand corrected.
I assumed that the ‘St John’ referred to a college of the University of York.
Nevertheless the institution seems to have a long history, awarding external degrees from the University of Leeds for many years before becoming autonomous, so I think the criticisms of the article are still valid.

Oh, not complaining about the criticism at all janeainswirth, I just spotted the fact it wasn't York University and thought it was worth pointing it out. DH used to be a lecturer at York so I didn't want them falsely accused

Plandemic-the notion that it has been planned for a very long time by..? ..'they"

I understand why the initial post causes people anxiety about ageism sexism etc. this should definitely be guarded against. However I have a relative-female, a grandmother .. who is completely sucked into these theories. The likes of David Icke and even Katy Hopkins are applauded for their recognition of "the truth". any attempts to question any of the posters are rebuffed, I am told they are not there to explain.One said she is a 'free thinking truth seeker" People who doubt are labelled as sheeple, morons, told to do the research. They really genuinely believe that they have 'the truth" . Words like scamdemic, pandemic are thrown around. Vaccines are at best an introduction of poison into the body, at worst a means of controlling entire populations through inserting tracking microchips. bill gates is in league with the devil...agenda 21 is frequently referred to as a 'proof'
It is a dangerous and frightening movement. those who claim that we are all being manipulated cannot see how they too are victims of serious manipulation.

The researcher is not from York University, she is from York St John university, a completely different institution. Seeing as we're talking about gullible people, maybe we should get our facts right

My apologies Alegrias, I stand corrected.
I assumed that the ‘St John’ referred to a college of the University of York.
Nevertheless the institution seems to have a long history, awarding external degrees from the University of Leeds for many years before becoming autonomous, so I think the criticisms of the article are still valid.

A researcher from York University believes that ‘British grannies’ are helping to spread QAnon conspiracy theories on Facebook........

The researcher is not from York University, she is from York St John university, a completely different institution. Seeing as we're talking about gullible people, maybe we should get our facts right.

I wonder if taking umbrage about the “British grannies”, understandable tho that is, diminishes the real concerns here. Several posters have first hand experience of QAnon. I have a younger Facebook friend who has posted several QAnon links. The suggestion that the Clintons are masterminding international child abuse, with only Trump fighting to protect children is terrifying yet it’s out there,
The anti vax, covid hoaxers are growing in number.
Thanks janeainsworth for starting this, also growstuff for your comments

I was talking about the one in the OP.

Yes, I do know that is the norm.

I think that university researchers generally have to have some facts to back up their findings.

theconversation.com/qanon-conspiracy-theories-about-the-coronavirus-pandemic-are-a-public-health-threat-135515

A researcher from York University believes that ‘British grannies’ are helping to spread QAnon conspiracy theories on Facebook

Stereotyping without any real facts or statistics to back up the theory.

It is yet another conspiracy theory.

Slightly OT, but related via facebook

www.channel4.com/news/revealed-trump-campaign-strategy-to-deter-millions-of-black-americans-from-voting-in-2016

It's the same techniques

We also know that similar targeting was used during the Referendum campaign

Monica the author of the article is Sue Greenwood.
I have left a comment, complaining about the ageism and sexism implicit in the article , and there are several comments supporting me and calling for an explanation and apology. The Conversation used to be a worthwhile publication (to which I have in the past made a financial contribution) but I fear, no longer.

If you read the links that Growstuff posted, you’ll see that a woman, Kate Shemirani, was one of the main protagonists in Trafalgar Square, alongside Icke and Piers Corbyn. Her Wikipedia entry says she’s got 4 children but doesn’t mention anything grandchildren.

Don't get me wrong I think those that subscribe to Q Anon are deluded to say the lease but....
To say that the ones that gets sucked into this is the ignoramuses and delusional are wrong.
Most are educated people with inquiring minds that question everything and unfortunately fail to take scientific evidence or just evidence into consideration.
This is why it has grown into this scary and bat sh*t crazy movement.

Where does one begin with the offensiveness of this link? It is outrageous.

To start with 'British Grannies' used by so many researchers like this as a euphomism for 'stupid old women' Too scared to say it out right but this what he means. Note this is all coming from a 'he' who, I suspect knows very few older women, to find out what they actually believe.

So som older women are right wing conspiracy theorists. How do their numbers compare with men between 15 - 60 who are conspiracy theorists. I would lay money that conspiracy theorists are much more numerous in absolute and percentage terms in that group than it is among older women.

The big Anti-COVID demonstration this weekend was led by Piers Corbyn (Jeremy's brother) and David Icke (remember him?), not by any 'British Grannies'

Very odd callistomon brings back memories eh

The story about Trump's taxes highlights another danger ie even genuine stories become discredited.