The public is convinced that beliefs in conspiracy theories are increasing, and many scholars, journalists, and policymakers agree. Given the associations between conspiracy theories and many non-normative tendencies, lawmakers have called for policies to address these increases. However, little evidence has been provided to demonstrate that beliefs in conspiracy theories have, in fact, increased over time. We address this evidentiary gap. Study 1 investigates change in the proportion of Americans believing 46 conspiracy theories; our observations in some instances span half a century. Study 2 examines change in the proportion of individuals across six European countries believing six conspiracy theories. Study 3 traces beliefs about which groups are conspiring against “us,” while Study 4 tracks generalized conspiracy thinking in the U.S. from 2012 to 2021. In no instance do we observe systematic evidence for an increase in conspiracism, however operationalized. We discuss the theoretical and policy implications of our findings.

This study examined how non-profit organizations (NPOs) adapted to the new media environment and created an innovative culture of advocacy to directly facilitate engagement with interested supporters. Findings from this content analysis and virtual ethnography revealed NPOs dramatically transformed the structure of online content. Shifting the emphasis of the web and social media from a one-way transmission of information to an interactive conversation substantially changes the dynamics for activism, and fosters new models of engagement between NPOs and supporters. In this participatory, co-operative media culture, people were actively engaged and shared digital content that inspired others to care about important issues. These overall results indicated that the web and social media, when used to its fullest extent, played a key role encouraging communication and inspiring interaction among individuals on- and off-line.

Research has emerged that found more companies providing details about how their brand or product is made beneficial to protecting the environment as a conceptual strategy for environmental brand identification. Literature also supports that green branding extends to Web-based communication aimed at consumers looking for brands and products aligned with their value system. Drawing from the literature on green advertising and marketing, CSR, and framing, we conducted a content analysis that looks at environmental brand identification on skin care and cosmetic websites and the various elements used to frame greenness consistent with pro-environmental stewardship. Overall, findings show improvements including more substantive claims and CSR activities on websites though associative claims still dominated framing brands green, and thus imply eco-friendly. The inclusion of additional substantive claims and details about CSR shows how skin care and cosmetic brands craft a green identity endorsing caring for the environment that is progressively becoming a core part of web-based communication.