After Words Kelly Weill, Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything
14 snips
Mar 6, 2022 AI Snips
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Origins As Reaction Against Modern Science
- Flat Earth revived in the 19th century as a reactionary movement tied to rejecting modern science and secularism.
- Its founder monetized the idea through books and lectures, sustaining a fringe movement for 150+ years.
Zion's Century-Long Flat Earth Rule
- Zion, Illinois became effectively controlled by a militant Flat Earth church leader who rewrote schools and hymns.
- Civic pushback briefly ousted him but courts and local power struggles allowed Flat Earth control to persist for decades.
Algorithms Fueled Modern Resurgence
- YouTube's recommendation algorithm funneled curious viewers into Flat Earth content by promoting sensational videos.
- That promotion helped convert viewers and inspired creators to make Flat Earth channels for engagement.