'We've become a low-trust society': Curley says Lindsey Graham death speculation reflects ...
mynorthwest.com
Death speculation about Lindsey Graham went viral on social media before any denial could catch up — a sign of how far institutional trust has collapsed.
Availability CascadeTrust and Social CapitalBackfire EffectInformation Deficit Model
Theory Briefing
- Conspiracy theories about Lindsey Graham's death spread on social media and racked up millions of views before official denials surfaced.
- Curley argues the viral spread reflects a 'low-trust society' where official denials are met with skepticism rather than relief.
- Corrections and rebuttals consistently lag behind the original false claims, giving misinformation a structural head start in public attention.
- The pattern repeats across many stories — denial arrives, but the damage to public trust is already done.