The thrill of the game: Why are people drawn into conspiracy theories? Conspiracy theories have become a mental contagion, fuelled by social media and weaponised by celebrities and politicians. More interesting, however, is how individuals get pulled into their thrall. April 16, 2021 “[Studies show] up to 80 per cent of people now believe in at least one conspiracy theory,” says Dr Mathew Marques, a lecturer in social psychology at Melbourne’s La Trobe University. Credit:Illustrations by Sam Bennett Save Normal text size Very large text size It’s the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration as US President, and conspiracy hives around the world are abuzz with news of his imminent arrest as part of a military coup. As usual, details are vague and sources unnamed. Yet online conspiracy feeders gobble it up, believing Biden’s arrest – for “illegal dealings”, or something – will lead, somehow or other, to Donald Trump’s return as leader of the free world.