Viral Fox News interview with retired Navy SEAL sparks wild conspiracy theory among viewers - AOL
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A viral Fox News interview is turning viewers into conspiracy theorists — a textbook case of how media framing and in-group trust can hijack rational thinking in real time.
Authority BiasConspiracy Theory RadicalizationEcho Chamber EffectSocial Proof
Theory Briefing
- A retired Navy SEAL's Fox News interview went viral, triggering widespread conspiracy theories among viewers primed to trust military credibility.
- The phenomenon illustrates how authority bias amplifies fringe beliefs — audiences accept dubious claims faster when the source wears a hero's uniform.
- Social media's echo-chamber dynamics turbocharged the spread, turning a single cable segment into a self-reinforcing loop of speculation.