Sensemaking and the Chemtrail Conspiracy on the Internet: Insights from Believers and Ex-believers

How do people come to believe conspiracy theories, and what role does the internet play in this process as a socio-technical system? We explore these questions by examining online participants "chemtrails" conspiracy, idea that visible condensation trails behind airliners are deliberately sprayed for nefarious purposes. apply Weick's theory of sensemaking examine people's frames (beliefs worldviews), well contexts (social interactions technological affordances) processing informational cues about conspiracy. Through an analysis in-depth interviews with thirteen believers seven ex-believers, we find many become curious chemtrails after consuming rich media, they later welcoming communities support shared beliefs worldviews. discuss how context may inadvertently trap perpetual state ambiguity becomes reinforced through collective process. In addition, show offers way express their dissatisfaction authority, enjoy sense community, some entertainment along way. Finally, various important debunking evidence, such factors function rejection conspiratorial beliefs.