JOHN JAY COLLEGE–These days, conspiracy theorists aren’t shutting the world out with tinfoil hats–instead, they’re spreading their claims via an internet connection.
A relatively new anthropology course at John Jay, Polarization, Social Media, and Conspiracy Theories, will be offered again in Fall 2025. The class explores how social distrust spreads—examining not just what people believe, but why they’re drawn to certain narratives, especially in today’s hyperconnected world.
The course’s relevance is hard to ignore. A 2022 report from the National Library of Medicine found that 73% of Americans believe conspiracy theories are “out of control,” with 59% agreeing that people are more likely to believe them today than 25 years ago.
Approximately 77% of Americans attribute this rise to the influence of social media and the internet. Many scholars agree, viewing the trend as a sign of a modern “crisis,” pointing to new communication technologies as a primary cause.
Professor Robert Hollander, who has taught at John Jay intermittently since 2013, drew inspiration to create the course from his own diverse social circles.
