
 Question Everything
 Question Everything ‘I Believed Sandy Hook Was a Hoax’
 Oct 16, 2025 
 A former believer in the Sandy Hook hoax shares her journey from conspiracy theory to truth. Influenced by her father's views and misleading media, she recounts the shocking moment her beliefs crumbled during a college class. The discussion explores the deep emotional toll of disinformation, how it dulled her empathy, and the family rifts it caused. The conversation also tackles the urgent need to reform Section 230 to hold tech platforms accountable for spreading harmful lies—an enlightening dive into the interplay of belief, technology, and accountability. 
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Believing Sandy Hook Was A Hoax
- Kate grew up believing Sandy Hook was staged after her father showed her conspiracy content and an edited photo.
- She lived with that belief for years until college classes prompted her to reassess and accept the reality.
Dad's Immediate Rejection Of The News
- Kate's father instantly told the family the shooting was 'put on by the government' while watching news that night.
- He repeatedly showed Alex Jones clips and an image misrepresented to cast doubt on victims and fuel the hoax belief.
College Class Triggered The Turnaround
- In college, a women's and gender studies class forced Kate to confront her Sandy Hook disbelief.
- Seeing news clips and classmates' reactions led her to realize the parents were genuinely grieving and that the shooting was real.

