Navigating Misinformation: How to Talk to Friends and Family About Conspiracy Theories

It’s one of the most bewildering experiences of our digital age: watching someone you love deeply suddenly place unwavering faith in conspiracy theories. Your mother who once insisted you wear a helmet while riding your bike now refuses medication based on a YouTube video.

This contradiction can feel not just frustrating but genuinely heartbreaking. What happened to the critical thinking they once modeled and encouraged?

The consequences are serious; from measles outbreaks to cancer patients following fraudulent “natural cures” like Belle Gibson’s, and communities divided by incompatible versions of reality.

This divide threatens more than personal relationships; it erodes our collective problem-solving capacity. But connection remains possible. This article offers ten practical strategies balancing truth with empathy, acknowledging both factual accuracy and the psychology behind beliefs.

The goal isn’t winning arguments but rebuilding bridges, recognizing that behind every conspiracy theory is someone seeking meaning in a chaotic world. With patience and understanding, we can begin repairing our fractured social fabric, one conversation at a time.

When Misinformation Kills

The consequences of this shift extend far beyond awkward family dinners. Most troubling are the cases where misinformation literally becomes a matter of life and death. In communities where vaccine hesitancy has taken hold, we’re witnessing the alarming resurgence of dangerous diseases like measles, illnesses that took decades of coordinated public health efforts to control through herd immunity, now returning because of conspiracy theories spread through social media.

When Lies Goes Viral

A clear case that illustrates the danger of lies going viral, is the case of Belle Gibson, who rose to fame in 2013 claiming she had cured her terminal brain cancer through diet and alternative therapies. Her wellness app and cookbook “The Whole Pantry” gained international attention and hundreds of thousands of followers. She detailed her journey of healing herself through nutrition after allegedly rejecting conventional medical treatment.

The problem? Gibson never had cancer. Her entire story was fabricated. But before her deception was uncovered, countless cancer patients had followed her advice, with some abandoning medical treatments that could have saved their lives. When the truth emerged in 2015, the damage had already been done: real people with real illnesses had made life-altering decisions based on her fraudulent claims.

Fracturing Connections

The divide created by these belief systems has torn families apart, ended decades-long friendships, and increasingly fragmented our communities. Some people have made the painful decision to distance themselves completely from loved ones whose beliefs they find harmful or dangerous, while others maintain strained relationships and carefully avoid topics.

This growing polarization isn’t just a personal tragedy playing out in countless homes; it represents a broader social crisis. As we retreat into isolated information bubbles, our capacity for collective problem-solving diminishes. The very fabric of shared reality, the foundation necessary for democratic society, appears to be unraveling thread by thread.

Finding a Way Forward: Conversation, Not Combat

Behind conspiracy beliefs often lie legitimate concerns: distrust born from institutional failures, fear in uncertain times, or the basic human need to find patterns in chaos. Understanding these deeper motivations opens pathways for conversation that pure fact-checking cannot.

The following strategies aren’t guaranteed solutions, but they offer ways to honor both facts and feelings.

Your Conversation Toolkit: Tips for Addressing Misinformation

1. Listen With Genuine Curiosity

Begin by genuinely understanding their perspective. Ask open-ended questions and listen without interrupting.

Example: When your uncle mentions that climate change is a hoax, rather than immediately refuting him, try: “I’m interested in understanding your perspective better. What information led you to that conclusion?” This validates his viewpoint enough to create a dialogue rather than a debate.

2. Use the Socratic Method

Ask gentle, probing questions that encourage critical thinking rather than making direct claims.

Example: If a friend believes a conspiracy about vaccine tracking devices, instead of saying “That’s impossible,” you might ask: “How would such tiny devices be powered? How would they transmit data? What would be the purpose when our phones already track us?” These questions invite them to think through the logistics themselves.

3. Find Common Ground

Identify shared values that underlie both your positions to establish connection before addressing differences.

Example: When a relative expresses concerns about chemicals in vaccines, you might say: “I understand you’re really concerned about keeping your children safe and healthy. That’s a value we absolutely share. I worry about what goes into my kids’ bodies too. Maybe we could look at some of the scientific studies together about vaccine ingredients and their safety profiles?”

This example acknowledges the shared value of protecting children’s health while creating an opening to explore evidence together in a non-confrontational way. It validates their core concern (safety) before addressing the specific beliefs about vaccines.

4. Teach Information Filtering Skills

Instead of arguing about specific claims, help loved ones develop tools to evaluate information themselves.

Example: When discussing health claims, say: “I’ve found a simple way to sort reliable health information from questionable claims.

I check three things:

• Is the research peer-reviewed?
• How many people were in the study?
• Have other independent researchers found the same results?

Let’s try these questions on this article together.”

This approach shifts from debating content to building skills, empowering your loved one to evaluate information more critically in the future. By teaching rather than telling, you avoid triggering defensiveness while offering practical tools they can apply to any information they encounter.

5. Taking a Step Back

Remember that preserving trust is more important than winning an argument.

Example: When conversations become heated, take a step back: “This topic seems to be creating tension between us, and our relationship means more to me than either of us being right. Maybe we could take a break and watch that show we both enjoy? We can come back to this another time if you want.”

6. Choose the Right Time and Place

Example: Instead of challenging your cousin’s conspiracy beliefs during a crowded Thanksgiving dinner, say: “I’d love to hear more about your thoughts on this. Would you want to grab coffee this weekend when we can really talk about it without interruptions?”

7. Leverage Trusted Voices

Example: For a friend who respects military expertise but believes in deep state conspiracies, you might share: “I was reading what retired General X said about this situation, and his perspective was different. Since we both respect his service record, I thought you might find it interesting.”

8. Honor Their Investment

Example: When a friend has spent months researching a conspiracy theory, acknowledge their effort: “I can see you’ve put a lot of time into understanding this. That shows how much you care about finding the truth, which I really respect.”

9. Sidestep Direct Confrontation

Example: Instead of saying “Those QAnon theories have been debunked repeatedly,” try: “I understand wanting to protect children from harm – that’s something we all want. I’ve found some different information about these concerns that might be worth considering.”

10. Set Healthy Boundaries

Example: When a family member constantly sends conspiracy videos: “I value our relationship, but these videos are causing me stress. Could we agree to share other things we both enjoy, like those cooking recipes you find?”

Bridging Divides: The Path Forward

The journey of reconnecting with loved ones across the misinformation divide is rarely quick or easy. There will be frustrations, setbacks, and moments when it feels impossible to reach common ground. Some conversations may end without resolution, only to be revisited months later when emotions have cooled.

What matters most in these exchanges isn’t achieving perfect agreement but rather maintaining the human connection that makes dialogue possible. Each respectful conversation, even those that don’t seem immediately productive, helps preserve the possibility of future understanding. The alternative, allowing relationships to dissolve entirely, only deepens our collective fracturing.

Remember that behind every conspiracy theory is a person seeking meaning, security, or control in a complex world. Their conclusions may be mistaken, but their human needs are genuine. By approaching these conversations with empathy first and facts second, we create space for authentic engagement that respects both truth and relationship.

In a world increasingly divided by information bubbles, the willingness to maintain difficult relationships across belief barriers is itself a radical act. By refusing to give up on those we care about, we contribute to the slow, essential work of reweaving our torn social fabric, one conversation at a time.

About the Author

Ilse Gevaert is a psychologist and coach with expertise in neurodiversity (such as Autism and ADHD), giftedness, twice-exceptionality (2e), trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, and resilience. Ilse continued her education at prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Cornell, where she obtained leadership certificates that have informed her practice.

Contact: ilse.resilientminds@gmail.com

References

[1] https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gibson

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