Rising gas prices spark bizarre conspiracy about Biden and EVs

Who doesn't like a good conspiracy theory? The Earth is flat, we never landed on the Moon, and the Lizard People are controlling us.

Did you know that the soaring gas prices in the US are not the result of the sanctions against Russia?

Thanks to our fellow conspiracy theorists, who believe that the Biden administration is using the war as a pretext to drive up gas prices. Why, you ask? To make you buy an EV.

Let's take a look at what's happening in social media.

One popular meme claims that $6.00 a gallon gas is how you get people to buy electric cars.

Others show how the prices have been manipulated, how the Ukraine invasion was part of the plan, and how Biden is cooperating with China.

According to an analysis, mentions of electric vehicles and government have increased 400% across social media accounts.

But… why can such theories prove to be dangerous?

Conspiracy theories have been around for a long time.

According to Karen Douglas, professor of social psychology at the University of Kent, there are various psychological factors that motivate people to believe in such theories: the desire to know the truth, the need to have control over what is happening, and the feeling of self-importance.

Making connections between disparate events that the rest just don't notice is a great way to achieve all that.

Conspiracy theories can spread quickly. Professor Douglas says that social media have changed the way people access and share information, making them more interested in conspiracy theories.

Everyone is entitled to believe what they want, it is a democratic principle. The problem is when the web is filled with ungrounded beliefs that shift the focus from a real human tragedy to national politics.