Step 4:
Show them examples of others who have broken out of conspiracy thinking
In extreme cases, hearing from or about someone who was deeply radicalized but subsequently broke free can be extremely effective, says van der Linden.
In his work with conspiracy theorists, he often borrows quotes or stories from former believers or those who have been under the control of a cult.
For example, Brent Lee, a former 9/11 truther and someone who had fully bought into an array of conspiracy theories, now spends his time trying to help other conspiracy theorists see the problems with their beliefs, speaking at conferences and on podcasts about his time in that world.
Someone “who used to be in those groups,” says van der Linden, “is much more persuasive, sometimes, than any scientist or outsider.”
Step 5:
Let them know you care—and watch for isolation
Lastly, just being aware of changes in the behavior of your family and friends can be vital.
Warning signs include becoming noticeably close-minded about explanations for things that are happening around them. “When people start to sort of switch off from other explanations in the world,” says van der Linden, “that’s kind of the usual path to becoming more radical.”
Another major predictor is when people start showing low faith in official outlets, he says. “When people start losing trust in mainstream media, in official explanations, that pulls them toward alternative sources that usually spread conspiracy theories.”
It’s worth keeping an eye out in case loved ones are becoming isolated from others around them, something that is often a red flag. If you’re at risk of becoming radicalized online, you need people around you who are “constantly distracting you and kind of questioning this stuff and [who can] bring you back to reality,” says van der Linden.