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Comment by codeecan | Hacker News Reader

> The report also showed that a Facebook page for The Epoch Times, an anti-China newspaper that spreads right-wing conspiracy theories, was the 19th-most-popular page on the platform for the first three months of 2021.

Domestic vaccines passports, the weapons lab theory and yearly booster shots ... not conspiracy theories anymore.

This is why people are losing trust in classical institutions like NYT and turning to places like Epoch Times.

The internet has pulled the curtain back and showed people the amount of lies and propaganda coming from all sides. You can't keep censoring information and expecting people to accept it.

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Isn’t the hallmark of “good” misinformation/conspiracy theory that it’s ever so slightly rooted in truth and is, on occasion, kinda-sorta right? Or at least “right” enough for the conspiracy theorists’ confirmation bias to kick in?

That the Epoch Times has reported on some things that weren’t complete and total bullshit does not at all mean none of their reporting is bullshit.

That describes a New York Times story. Slightly rooted in the truth and occasionally right. Not that I would describe that paper conspiracy theory, misinformation yes.

No, those are still very much conspiracy myths; the lab leak story may or may not be true, but calling it a “weapons lab” just shows why people were reluctant to promote speculation that is so easily turned into accusations of intentional malfeasance.

“Vaccination passports”, just by using that term, imply (and often say) that they are/will be used for something sinister.

…and I don’t remember anyone calling booster shots a conspiracy theory.

Also the New York Times is breaking subscriber records month-after-month, so I’m guessing you got the idea about people losing confidence in it from the Epoch Times?

If you need an example of why, just look at this story, publishing something that Facebook PR tried to hide. I don’t recall the Epoch Times being first with any actual news.

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