As tick bites surge, conspiracy theories follow | Health | captimes.com
captimes.com
When a real threat like surging tick populations meets public fear, conspiracy theories rush in to fill the gaps — and this story shows exactly why misinformation thrives alongside genuine ecological crises.
Proportionality BiasMisinformation TheoryEcological Systems TheoryMotivated Reasoning
Theory Briefing
- Tick populations are genuinely surging in Maine, driven by real ecological changes — giving conspiracy theories a factual foothold to exploit.
- When people can't fully explain a worsening threat, proportionality bias kicks in: a big problem must have a big, intentional cause.
- Misinformation spreads faster when it contains a kernel of truth, making tick conspiracy theories harder to debunk than pure fiction.