ArticleFrontiers in sociology2025
Constructing unverifiable reality: a qualitative study of the prison planet conspiracy hypothesis on YouTube.
Article in Frontiers in sociology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: This study examines the construction of unverifiable realities through the analysis of a YouTube video and its associated comments on the Methods: Using Grounded Theory, the research analyzes the transcript of a 54-min YouTube video along with 450 viewer comments. The study focuses on how credibility is constructed through the interplay between video content and audience engagement. Results: The credibility of the unverifiable Discussion: The results highlight the significance of social interactions and emotional resonance in shaping knowledge formation. The study discusses the role of epistemic uncertainties and collective identity processes in digital communities, as well as the dual function of digital platforms as spaces for meaning-making and commercialization. Conclusion: This study highlights the construction of a collective epistemic authority, which is established through an emotionally engaged community. It shows how digital platforms facilitate the legitimization of unverifiable knowledge by fostering trust and validation among users. This research contributes to understanding the mechanisms behind the social construction of conspiracy theories in the digital age.
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