Editorial: Starbucks Backlash Crosses Line into Conspiracy Theories
chosun.com
When a Starbucks promotion date sparks viral conspiracy theories, it's a textbook case of how pattern-seeking minds manufacture meaning from coincidence — and how fast it spreads.
ApopheniaConspiracy Theory FormationMoral PanicAvailability Heuristic
Theory Briefing
- Shinsegae apologized for an unintentional date clash in a Starbucks promotion, but public backlash had already spiraled into conspiracy theories.
- Apophenia — the brain's tendency to find intentional patterns in random events — explains why a scheduling overlap became a sinister plot to many.
- The episode shows how social media accelerates the jump from coincidence to conspiracy, turning corporate PR missteps into ideological flashpoints.