Bibliography
353 verified references, covering academic work, books, reports, primary sources, investigative journalism, documentaries and datasets. Each reference is summarised in French and English.
Links checked automatically on Oct 19, 2026 (535 addresses from the bibliography, timeline, glossary and verdicts). 518 respond, 15 refuse robots (pages probably online), 0 are dead, 2 temporarily failing. For a dead link, an archived copy is offered when one exists.
To start, see the selection and synthesis on the page State of research.
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Bimo, S. (2026). Repetition, Rumination, and Determinism: Exploring the Temporal Logic of QAnon. International Journal of Communication, 20, 1908-1931. doi:10.65476/bd6fgw84
Based on a content analysis of the 4,966 'Q drops', the article describes QAnon's distinctive temporality of repetition, rumination and determinism. This temporality of slowness, at odds with the speed and virality usually associated with disinformation, helps according to the author to bind participants around a shared world and shared affective investments.
BibTeX
@article{bimo2026repetition, author = {Bimo, Sara}, title = {{Repetition, Rumination, and Determinism: Exploring the Temporal Logic of QAnon}}, year = {2026}, journal = {International Journal of Communication}, volume = {20}, pages = {1908--1931}, doi = {10.65476/bd6fgw84}, url = {https://doi.org/10.65476/bd6fgw84}, langid = {english} } -
Bozalka, D. (2026). Une ethnographie en ligne computationnelle des influenceurs complotistes : Identifier les pratiques des Anons européens. Questions de communication, 49, 357-384. OpenEdition. doi:10.4000/16eby
The article studies the practices of three European conspiracist influencers or influencer collectives belonging to the networked counter-public formed by Q and the 'Anons'. It combines distant online ethnography with quantitative measures from multi-platform data collection to identify these influencers and analyse their output.
BibTeX
@article{bozalka2026ethnographie, author = {Bozalka, Dusan}, title = {{Une ethnographie en ligne computationnelle des influenceurs complotistes : Identifier les pratiques des Anons européens}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Questions de communication}, volume = {49}, pages = {357--384}, publisher = {OpenEdition}, doi = {10.4000/16eby}, langid = {french} } -
Campisi, F. C. & Fortin, F. (2026). QAnon's hashtag hijacking strategies and engagement dynamics across discursive themes on Twitter: Negative Binomial models of online visibility. Technology in Society, 86, 103296. doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103296
Analysis of QAnon-related content on Twitter between January 2020 and January 2021 using chi-squared tests, negative binomial models and LDA to measure hashtag hijacking and its effect on engagement. Hijacking alone did not significantly increase engagement, but hijacked hashtags achieved greater reach when paired with specific narratives such as the 2020 US election.
BibTeX
@article{campisi2026hashtag, author = {Campisi, Francesco C. and Fortin, Francis}, title = {{QAnon's hashtag hijacking strategies and engagement dynamics across discursive themes on Twitter: Negative Binomial models of online visibility}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Technology in Society}, volume = {86}, pages = {103296}, doi = {10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103296}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103296}, langid = {english} } -
Cohen, N. D., Antonaros, P., Weinberg, D. B., Levy, M. & Kopstein, J. S. (2026). Patterned Radicalization: User Behavior Analysis and Antisemitic Language in QAnon Subreddits. Information, 17(2), 179. doi:10.3390/info17020179
Using a lexicon of implicit and explicit antisemitic terms, the study analyses over 1.26 million posts and comments from two banned QAnon subreddits with survival models, chi-square tests and logistic regressions. Most users start with implicit terms before moving to explicit language, an escalation more marked among highly engaged users and those interacting with 'hyper-posters'.
BibTeX
@article{cohen2026patterned, author = {Cohen, Noah D. and Antonaros, Peter and Weinberg, Dana B. and Levy, Meyer and Kopstein, Jeffrey S.}, title = {{Patterned Radicalization: User Behavior Analysis and Antisemitic Language in QAnon Subreddits}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Information}, volume = {17}, pages = {179}, doi = {10.3390/info17020179}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/info17020179}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Conner, C. T. (2026). Conspirituality in Sport: How QAnon, White Supremacist Ideology, and Other Nonscientific-Based Ideas Came to Infiltrate the Sports World. Sociology of Sport Journal, 43(1), 91-102. doi:10.1123/ssj.2024-0216
Netnographic study of QAnon's infiltration of professional sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which celebrity athletes served as vectors for anti-vaccine and antisemitic narratives. Drawing on Adorno and the Frankfurt School, the author shows how QAnon exploits the authoritarian and gendered structures of commercialised sport.
BibTeX
@article{conner2026conspirituality, author = {Conner, Christopher T.}, title = {{Conspirituality in Sport: How QAnon, White Supremacist Ideology, and Other Nonscientific-Based Ideas Came to Infiltrate the Sports World}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Sociology of Sport Journal}, volume = {43}, pages = {91--102}, doi = {10.1123/ssj.2024-0216}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2024-0216}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Doan, B. N., De Francisci Morales, G. & Russo, G. (2026-01-25). Beyond the Rabbit Hole: Mapping the Relational Harms of QAnon Radicalization. arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.17658 (accepted to EMNLP 2026). https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.17658
Computational pipeline applied to 12,747 stories from r/QAnonCasualties: extraction of thematic traits, clustering into six radicalisation 'personas' and LLM-assisted emotion detection. Personas predict specific emotional harms: radicalisation perceived as a deliberate ideological choice is associated with anger and disgust, personal and cognitive collapse with fear and sadness.
BibTeX
@article{doan2026beyond, author = {Doan, Bich Ngoc and De Francisci Morales, Gianmarco and Russo, Giuseppe}, title = {{Beyond the Rabbit Hole: Mapping the Relational Harms of QAnon Radicalization}}, year = {2026}, journal = {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.17658 (accepted to EMNLP 2026)}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.17658}, date = {2026-01-25}, langid = {english} } -
Exline, J. J., Wilt, J. A., Schutt, W. A., Moffitt, A. C. & Pargament, K. I. (2026). The cosmic battle: Belief in a warrior god, a powerful devil, and a serious threat of hell relates to QAnon beliefs, generic conspiracist beliefs, and seeing political opponents as evil. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. doi:10.1037/rel0000611
This psychology-of-religion article studies the link between certain religious beliefs (a warrior God, a powerful devil, a serious threat of hell) and QAnon beliefs, generic conspiracist beliefs and the tendency to see political opponents as evil. According to its title these beliefs are associated with them; the abstract could not be consulted to specify the data and method.
BibTeX
@article{exline2026cosmic, author = {Exline, Julie J. and Wilt, Joshua A. and Schutt, William A. and Moffitt, Andrew C. and Pargament, Kenneth I.}, title = {{The cosmic battle: Belief in a warrior god, a powerful devil, and a serious threat of hell relates to QAnon beliefs, generic conspiracist beliefs, and seeing political opponents as evil}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Psychology of Religion and Spirituality}, doi = {10.1037/rel0000611}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000611}, langid = {english} } -
Exline, J. J., Pait, K. C., Keller, Y. & Wilt, J. A. (2026). Christian nationalism, fundamentalism, traditional masculinity beliefs, and authoritarian aggression: Do these “authority and order” variables predict QAnon belief?. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. doi:10.1037/rel0000624
A psychology-of-religion article testing whether four 'authority and order' variables (Christian nationalism, fundamentalism, traditional masculinity beliefs, authoritarian aggression) predict QAnon belief. The study's data are deposited on OSF; no abstract was available at the time of verification.
BibTeX
@article{exline2026christian, author = {Exline, Julie J. and Pait, Kathleen C. and Keller, Yehudis and Wilt, Joshua A.}, title = {{Christian nationalism, fundamentalism, traditional masculinity beliefs, and authoritarian aggression: Do these “authority and order” variables predict QAnon belief?}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Psychology of Religion and Spirituality}, doi = {10.1037/rel0000624}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000624}, langid = {english} } -
Fiebig, V. (2026). German Sovereign Citizens in the Fight Against the “Deep State”: The Adoption of QAnon Narratives in Germany. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 1-17. doi:10.1080/1057610x.2026.2617677
Through qualitative content analysis of extremist primary material, the article examines the ideological convergence between German 'Reichsbürger' and 'Selbstverwalter' sovereign citizens and the QAnon movement, which reached Germany with the Covid-19 pandemic. It stresses the need for interdisciplinary research on this fusion and on prevention strategies.
BibTeX
@article{fiebig2026german, author = {Fiebig, Verena}, title = {{German Sovereign Citizens in the Fight Against the “Deep State”: The Adoption of QAnon Narratives in Germany}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Studies in Conflict \& Terrorism}, pages = {1--17}, doi = {10.1080/1057610x.2026.2617677}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610x.2026.2617677}, langid = {english} } -
Hawkins, I., Mede, N. G. & Chinn, S. (2026). Fertile ground to problematic views? How dark and mainstream social media relate to conspiracy beliefs and fake news. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13(1), 953. doi:10.1057/s41599-026-07147-6
A cross-sectional survey of Alt-Right supporters and US Democrats and Republicans on how political identity and use of mainstream and dark social media relate to fake news sharing and belief in two conspiracy theories (QAnon, 5G causing COVID-19). Use of both platform types is associated with more sharing and belief among Alt-Right supporters than in the other groups.
BibTeX
@article{hawkins2026fertile, author = {Hawkins, Ian and Mede, Niels G. and Chinn, Sedona}, title = {{Fertile ground to problematic views? How dark and mainstream social media relate to conspiracy beliefs and fake news}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences Communications}, volume = {13}, pages = {953}, doi = {10.1057/s41599-026-07147-6}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07147-6}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Kim, S. J., Foley, J., Yang, Y. & Lee, K. (2026). Networked Counterpublics and Contentious Publicity: A Cross-Platform Analysis of QAnon on Parler and Twitter. Political Communication, 1-25. doi:10.1080/10584609.2026.2708132
Drawing on affordance theory, the study compares QAnon discourse on Parler and Twitter between 2018 and 2021. Practices differ by platform (identity-oriented hashtag stacking on Parler, calls to 'do your own research' on Twitter), and contestation between pro- and anti-QAnon claims shifts across the movement's stages.
BibTeX
@article{kim2026networked, author = {Kim, Sang Jung and Foley, Jordan and Yang, Yunkang and Lee, Keyeun}, title = {{Networked Counterpublics and Contentious Publicity: A Cross-Platform Analysis of QAnon on Parler and Twitter}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Political Communication}, pages = {1--25}, doi = {10.1080/10584609.2026.2708132}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2026.2708132}, langid = {english} } -
Patane, C., Perry, K. & Gibson, T. (2026). Mothers of Conspiracy: Child Trafficking (Dis)information and the Politics of the Women of QAnon in the United States. Politics & Gender, 1-22. doi:10.1017/s1743923x26100737
An original survey compares public responses to materials from QAnon's #SaveTheChildren campaign and from Polaris, the largest US anti-trafficking NGO, both drawing on motherhood stereotypes. QAnon narratives do not mobilise women better than the NGO's, but at least as well and among the same groups.
BibTeX
@article{patane2026mothers, author = {Patane, Christopher and Perry, Kate and Gibson, Tobias}, title = {{Mothers of Conspiracy: Child Trafficking (Dis)information and the Politics of the Women of QAnon in the United States}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Politics \& Gender}, pages = {1--22}, doi = {10.1017/s1743923x26100737}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743923x26100737}, langid = {english} } -
Pérez Caballero, J. (2026). Inspirar y conspirar: Iconicidad, tecnologías y religiosidad de QAnon. Andamios, Revista de Investigación Social, 23(60), 291-321. doi:10.29092/uacm.v23i60.1258
Drawing on primary sources, the article analyses the role of iconicity in spreading QAnon's message, its perception of technology and its decentralised structure, with far-right political aims and a religious core. It links QAnon to Western traditions (catechetical pedagogy, prayer, an eschatological frame) reworked by adherents.
BibTeX
@article{perezcaballero2026inspirar, author = {Pérez Caballero, Jesús}, title = {{Inspirar y conspirar: Iconicidad, tecnologías y religiosidad de QAnon}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Andamios, Revista de Investigación Social}, volume = {23}, pages = {291--321}, doi = {10.29092/uacm.v23i60.1258}, url = {https://doi.org/10.29092/uacm.v23i60.1258}, number = {60}, langid = {spanish} } -
Rasoulikolamaki, S., Mat Isa, N. A. N., Zhdanava, A. & Hardy, J. (2026). Multimodal stance-taking and ideological alignment in online far-right anti-immigration discourse. Language in Society, 1-23. doi:10.1017/s0047404526102346
A critical multimodal analysis of stance-taking in anti-immigration posts and comments on the 'QAnon+' Telegram channel (January 2021–October 2022). Attitude markers, boosters and emojis dominate while hedging is scarce, reflecting affective intensity and ideological closure.
BibTeX
@article{rasoulikolamaki2026multimodal, author = {Rasoulikolamaki, Sahar and Mat Isa, Noor Aqsa Nabila and Zhdanava, Alena and Hardy, John}, title = {{Multimodal stance-taking and ideological alignment in online far-right anti-immigration discourse}}, year = {2026}, journal = {Language in Society}, pages = {1--23}, doi = {10.1017/s0047404526102346}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0047404526102346}, langid = {english} } -
Westerman, J. (2026). What the Algorithm Wants: Amalia Ulman, Pastel QAnon, and the Structure of Digital Truth. The International Journal of the Arts in Society: Annual Review. doi:10.18848/1833-1866/cgp/a909
The article uses dynamical systems theory to study how visual and affective patterns shape belief, through Amalia Ulman's Excellences & Perfections and the 'Pastel QAnon' phenomenon. It argues that art can model and then reroute these architectures of influence through counter-aesthetics and by exposing algorithmic biases.
BibTeX
@article{westerman2026algorithm, author = {Westerman, Joshua}, title = {{What the Algorithm Wants: Amalia Ulman, Pastel QAnon, and the Structure of Digital Truth}}, year = {2026}, journal = {The International Journal of the Arts in Society: Annual Review}, doi = {10.18848/1833-1866/cgp/a909}, url = {https://doi.org/10.18848/1833-1866/cgp/a909}, langid = {english} } -
Alber, J. (2025). Disruptive Stories, Narrative Literacy, and the Case of QAnon. Journal of Narrative Theory, 55(1), 81-102. doi:10.1353/jnt.2025.a961005
Narrative-theory article taking QAnon as a case study of 'disruptive' stories and narrative literacy. No abstract is available in the metadata.
BibTeX
@article{alber2025disruptive, author = {Alber, Jan}, title = {{Disruptive Stories, Narrative Literacy, and the Case of QAnon}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Journal of Narrative Theory}, volume = {55}, pages = {81--102}, doi = {10.1353/jnt.2025.a961005}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1353/jnt.2025.a961005}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Becktel, K. L. & Sweetser, K. D. (2025). Believing in belonging: Rethinking organization–public relationships through the QAnon movement. Public Relations Review, 51(5), 102621. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2025.102621
A study applying public relations theory (source credibility, issue involvement, relationship management) to the bond between QAnon, an entity without formal leadership, and its adherents, using an online survey (N = 579). Self-identified believers and non-believers differ markedly on these dimensions, and belonging emerges as a key driver of sustained engagement.
BibTeX
@article{becktel2025believing, author = {Becktel, Kalyca Lynn and Sweetser, Kaye D.}, title = {{Believing in belonging: Rethinking organization–public relationships through the QAnon movement}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Public Relations Review}, volume = {51}, pages = {102621}, doi = {10.1016/j.pubrev.2025.102621}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2025.102621}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Burdick, J. (2025). Eventually we’ll take the stars: The QAnon Shaman, coloniality, and the conspiritual desire of the other. Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 47(5), 759-769. doi:10.1080/10714413.2025.2577571
A theoretical essay on Jacob Chansley, the so-called 'QAnon Shaman', whose appropriation of Indigenous iconography and discourse is read, through Fanon and Possamai, as the colonial end point of 'conspirituality'. The author argues that this conspirituality seeks to colonise spiritual as well as physical space.
BibTeX
@article{burdick2025eventually, author = {Burdick, Jake}, title = {{Eventually we’ll take the stars: The QAnon Shaman, coloniality, and the conspiritual desire of the other}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies}, volume = {47}, pages = {759--769}, doi = {10.1080/10714413.2025.2577571}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/10714413.2025.2577571}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Coduto, K. D. & Frampton, J. R. (2025). Imagined Interactions and Intrapsychic Relational Dissolution Processes among QAnon Nonbelievers. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 45(4), 402-423. doi:10.1177/02762366251369890
A qualitative content analysis of imagined interactions written by participants who have a loved one who believes in QAnon. Emerging themes include ideal scenarios, justifying relational termination, venting frustrations and avoiding imagining the interaction.
BibTeX
@article{coduto2025imagined, author = {Coduto, Kathryn D. and Frampton, Jessica R.}, title = {{Imagined Interactions and Intrapsychic Relational Dissolution Processes among QAnon Nonbelievers}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Imagination, Cognition and Personality}, volume = {45}, pages = {402--423}, doi = {10.1177/02762366251369890}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02762366251369890}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Conner, C. T. & Hannah, M. N. (2025). Expressions of Belief in the QAnon Conspiracy Movement. Deviant Behavior, 1-19. doi:10.1080/01639625.2025.2556939
Content analysis of 3,251 comments posted in response to Q's messages between 3 and 5 November 2017, as QAnon was taking shape. Participants fall into three categories (believers, sceptics and LARPers), which cautions against treating the movement as a monolithic belief system.
BibTeX
@article{conner2025expressions, author = {Conner, Christopher T. and Hannah, Matthew N.}, title = {{Expressions of Belief in the QAnon Conspiracy Movement}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Deviant Behavior}, pages = {1--19}, doi = {10.1080/01639625.2025.2556939}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2025.2556939}, langid = {english} } -
Demuru, P. (2025). QAnons, antivacinas e influenciadores de bem-estar: uma perspectiva semiótico-discursiva sobre os vínculos entre teorias da conspiração, espiritualidade e wellness. Ephemera: Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Artes Cênicas da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, 8(15). doi:10.70446/ephemera.v8i15.8034
Semiotic analysis (Lotman, Greimas) of the overlap between QAnon and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, New Age spirituality and wellness during the pandemic, focusing on the Facebook page of an alternative-health influencer. The author argues the link rests on the translation of five cultural elements: narrative plots, themes and roles, figures, plastic features and collective passions.
BibTeX
@article{demuru2025qanons, author = {Demuru, Paolo}, title = {{QAnons, antivacinas e influenciadores de bem-estar: uma perspectiva semiótico-discursiva sobre os vínculos entre teorias da conspiração, espiritualidade e wellness}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Ephemera: Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Artes Cênicas da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto}, volume = {8}, doi = {10.70446/ephemera.v8i15.8034}, url = {https://doi.org/10.70446/ephemera.v8i15.8034}, number = {15}, langid = {portuguese} } -
Fountain, T. K. & Jennings, C. (2025). Presencing, Immersion, and Community: How Conspiracy Theory Belief Is Kindled Online. Nova Religio, 28(3), 79-103. doi:10.1353/nvr.2025.a949121
An article drawing on religious studies, psychology and rhetoric, notably Tanya Luhrmann's model of how belief is formed, to argue that absorption and immersion experiences foster conspiracy belief online. Digital ethnographic data illustrate these mechanisms in the online life of QAnon as a religiously inflected conspiracy theory.
BibTeX
@article{fountain2025presencing, author = {Fountain, T. Kenny and Jennings, Chandler}, title = {{Presencing, Immersion, and Community: How Conspiracy Theory Belief Is Kindled Online}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Nova Religio}, volume = {28}, pages = {79--103}, doi = {10.1353/nvr.2025.a949121}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1353/nvr.2025.a949121}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Haupt, M. R., Larsen, M. Z., Strayer, M., Yang, L. & Mackey, T. K. (2025-01-28). Examining Online Social Support for Countering QAnon Conspiracies. arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.16668. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.16668
Thematic coding and sentiment analysis of 1,665 posts and 78,171 comments from r/QAnonCasualties, a forum for relatives of people radicalised by QAnon (July 2021-July 2022). Venting, advice- and validation-seeking and pressure to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine dominate; 40% of coded posts identify a parent and 16.3% a partner as the 'Q' relation.
BibTeX
@article{haupt2025examining, author = {Haupt, Michael Robert and Larsen, Meng Zhen and Strayer, Michelle and Yang, Luning and Mackey, Tim K.}, title = {{Examining Online Social Support for Countering QAnon Conspiracies}}, year = {2025}, journal = {arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.16668}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.16668}, date = {2025-01-28}, langid = {english} } -
King, S. (2025). Behold—the Storm Cometh!: Prophecy, Revelation, and QAnon’s Great Disappointment. Journal of Religion and Violence, 10(2), 140-168. doi:10.5840/jrv2025102/35
The essay compares QAnon's resilience after its failed prophecies and 6 January 2021 with that of the Millerites after the 1844 'Great Disappointment'. It argues that the experience of revelation, sustained by followers' personal decoding of prophecies, is key to their mobilisation, including towards violence.
BibTeX
@article{king2025behold, author = {King, Shelby}, title = {{Behold—the Storm Cometh!: Prophecy, Revelation, and QAnon’s Great Disappointment}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Journal of Religion and Violence}, volume = {10}, pages = {140--168}, doi = {10.5840/jrv2025102/35}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5840/jrv2025102/35}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Nelson, M. (2025). Almost, Beyond, or Alongside Fandom? An Alternative Frame for QAnon. Proceedings from the Document Academy, 12(1). doi:10.35492/docam/12/1/4
A conceptual paper reviewing research on disinformation in library and information science and in fan studies, including work on QAnon 'fans'. It proposes 'parafandom' as a framework for fannish forms of disinformation.
BibTeX
@article{nelson2025almost, author = {Nelson, Melissa}, title = {{Almost, Beyond, or Alongside Fandom? An Alternative Frame for QAnon}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Proceedings from the Document Academy}, volume = {12}, doi = {10.35492/docam/12/1/4}, url = {https://doi.org/10.35492/docam/12/1/4}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Noble, B. S. & Carlson, T. N. (2025). CueAnon: What QAnon Signals About Congressional Candidates and What it Costs Them. Political Behavior, 47(1), 435-456. doi:10.1007/s11109-024-09957-3
The study examines how voters evaluate congressional candidates portrayed as QAnon-friendly, who receive more negative media coverage that may nonetheless raise their name recognition. A nationally representative vignette experiment, replicated by a conjoint experiment, shows that QAnon support lowers candidate favourability, even among seemingly sympathetic subgroups.
BibTeX
@article{noble2025cueanon, author = {Noble, Benjamin S. and Carlson, Taylor N.}, title = {{CueAnon: What QAnon Signals About Congressional Candidates and What it Costs Them}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Political Behavior}, volume = {47}, pages = {435--456}, doi = {10.1007/s11109-024-09957-3}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-024-09957-3}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Peterka-Benton, D., Benton, B. & Penney, J. (2025). From conspiracy to normalcy: The mainstreaming of QAnon in “Disney grooming” messages online. Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal, 21(2), 169-186. doi:10.1177/17416590241257862
The study analyses 68,481 tweets posted between March and May 2022 that framed Disney's opposition to Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law as 'grooming', in order to test a link with QAnon themes. The most impactful accounts (views, shares, followers) are mainly accounts that had shared QAnon-related conspiratorial content.
BibTeX
@article{peterkabenton2025conspiracy, author = {Peterka-Benton, Daniela and Benton, Bond and Penney, Joel}, title = {{From conspiracy to normalcy: The mainstreaming of QAnon in “Disney grooming” messages online}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal}, volume = {21}, pages = {169--186}, doi = {10.1177/17416590241257862}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/17416590241257862}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Phillips, J. B. (2025). “I’m so worried about my whole family”: Modeling r/QAnonCasualties to better understand the effects of (QAnon) conspiracy beliefs on families. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 42(7), 1517-1536. doi:10.1177/02654075251328116
Using large language model embeddings and machine-learning algorithms, the study categorises over 75,000 references to 'family' on r/QAnonCasualties, a subreddit devoted to QAnon's effects on relationships. It highlights emotional tolls, strategies to salvage family ties and the search for support, with pandemic issues, holiday gatherings and social media behaviour among the best-received discussions.
BibTeX
@article{phillips2025worried, author = {Phillips, Justin B.}, title = {{“I’m so worried about my whole family”: Modeling r/QAnonCasualties to better understand the effects of (QAnon) conspiracy beliefs on families}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Journal of Social and Personal Relationships}, volume = {42}, pages = {1517--1536}, doi = {10.1177/02654075251328116}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251328116}, number = {7}, langid = {english} } -
Sandlin, E. W. & Garland, M. (2025). Support for Partisan Violence among the Political Fringe: The Case of Antifa and QAnon Supporters. Terrorism and Political Violence, 37(5), 707-726. doi:10.1080/09546553.2024.2365764
Using Understanding America Study data, the authors compare attitudes towards political violence among Antifa supporters, QAnon supporters and other partisans. Supporters of both groups are more likely to wish harm on out-party members and to endorse violence, even controlling for ideological extremity, personality and affective partisanship.
BibTeX
@article{sandlin2025support, author = {Sandlin, Evan W. and Garland, Marshall}, title = {{Support for Partisan Violence among the Political Fringe: The Case of Antifa and QAnon Supporters}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Terrorism and Political Violence}, volume = {37}, pages = {707--726}, doi = {10.1080/09546553.2024.2365764}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2024.2365764}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Speakman, P. (2025). “It May Start Out as a Game But It Ends up a Whole World”: Creepypasta, QAnon, and the Anomalous Tales of the Internet. Contemporary Legend, 3. https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/cl/article/view/41601
The article compares QAnon with creepypasta, the internet's collaborative horror stories, analysing both as legend-like 'tales of the anomalous'. It highlights their participatory nature, their mechanics akin to alternate reality games and the way platforms blur the boundary between fact and fiction.
BibTeX
@article{speakman2025start, author = {Speakman, Philip}, title = {{“It May Start Out as a Game But It Ends up a Whole World”: Creepypasta, QAnon, and the Anomalous Tales of the Internet}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Contemporary Legend}, volume = {3}, url = {https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/cl/article/view/41601}, langid = {english} } -
Sweetser, K. D. & Becktel, K. L. (2025). Battle cry to “Do the research”: Vulnerability to QAnon, Alt Media, and low news media literacy. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 17(2), 19-36. doi:10.23860/jmle-2025-17-2-2
A survey (N = 579) of news media literacy among people likely to believe QAnon conspiracy theories. Vulnerability to QAnon is predicted by an alternative-media diet (including 4chan and Snapchat) and by belief in other conspiracy theories, and goes with lower news media literacy scores.
BibTeX
@article{sweetser2025battle, author = {Sweetser, Kaye D. and Becktel, Kalyca Lynn}, title = {{Battle cry to “Do the research”: Vulnerability to QAnon, Alt Media, and low news media literacy}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Journal of Media Literacy Education}, volume = {17}, pages = {19--36}, doi = {10.23860/jmle-2025-17-2-2}, url = {https://doi.org/10.23860/jmle-2025-17-2-2}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Trollinger, S. & Trollinger, W. V. (2025). From Creationism to QAnon: Answers in Genesis and the Culture Wars. Isis, 116(2), 350-354. doi:10.1086/735722
Short article in the history-of-science journal Isis on the creationist organisation Answers in Genesis, from creationism to QAnon, in the context of the American culture wars. No abstract is available in the metadata.
BibTeX
@article{trollinger2025creationism, author = {Trollinger, Susan and Trollinger, William Vance}, title = {{From Creationism to QAnon: Answers in Genesis and the Culture Wars}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Isis}, volume = {116}, pages = {350--354}, doi = {10.1086/735722}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1086/735722}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Whittaker, M. (2025). Smuggling Conspiracies. Columbia Journal of Race and Law, 15(1). doi:10.52214/cjrl.v15i1.14110
Drawing on the legislative history of the human-trafficking reforms passed in Florida in spring 2023, the article argues that these initiatives tap into theories popularised by QAnon. It sees in them a revival of long-standing racial narratives used to justify expanding the state's immigration enforcement powers.
BibTeX
@article{whittaker2025smuggling, author = {Whittaker, Mimi}, title = {{Smuggling Conspiracies}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Columbia Journal of Race and Law}, volume = {15}, doi = {10.52214/cjrl.v15i1.14110}, url = {https://doi.org/10.52214/cjrl.v15i1.14110}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Wilt, C. (2025). Forms of Social Solidarity in American Politics. Berkeley Undergraduate Journal, 39(1). doi:10.5070/b3.50664
An undergraduate-journal article examining QAnon's rise through Émile Durkheim's theory of social solidarity. The author concludes that QAnon forms a pocket of mechanical solidarity within two organic societies, the United States and the internet at large.
BibTeX
@article{wilt2025forms, author = {Wilt, Caitlyn}, title = {{Forms of Social Solidarity in American Politics}}, year = {2025}, journal = {Berkeley Undergraduate Journal}, volume = {39}, doi = {10.5070/b3.50664}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5070/b3.50664}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Ai, L., Chen, Y. W., Yu, Y., Kweon, S., Hirschberg, J. & Levitan, S. I. (2024). What Makes A Video Radicalizing? Identifying Sources of Influence in QAnon Videos. arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.14616. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2404.14616
A preprint using a detailed questionnaire to understand how viewers perceive QAnon videos. It outlines the viewer traits to which these videos are most appealing and the factors that shape their perception.
BibTeX
@article{ai2024what, author = {Ai, Lin and Chen, Yu-Wen and Yu, Yuwen and Kweon, Seoyoung and Hirschberg, Julia and Levitan, Sarah Ita}, title = {{What Makes A Video Radicalizing? Identifying Sources of Influence in QAnon Videos}}, year = {2024}, journal = {arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.14616}, doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2404.14616}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.14616}, langid = {english} } -
Atkinson, J. D., Dorr, M., Pedasanaganti, V. C. & Sharma, S. (2024). Toward an Understanding of Centralized Intertextual Fortification: The Case of Commercially Oriented Qanon Content Creators. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 49(1), 44-62. doi:10.1177/01968599241231281
A 'cyber-archaeology' of the interactive media used by QAnon content creators, most of them engaged in commercial ventures. The authors identify a strategy they call 'centralized intertextual fortification', in which curators and accumulators boost one another while followers take no part in producing the content.
BibTeX
@article{atkinson2024toward, author = {Atkinson, Joshua D. and Dorr, Matthew and Pedasanaganti, Vamsi Chaitanya and Sharma, Shudipta}, title = {{Toward an Understanding of Centralized Intertextual Fortification: The Case of Commercially Oriented Qanon Content Creators}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Communication Inquiry}, volume = {49}, pages = {44--62}, doi = {10.1177/01968599241231281}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/01968599241231281}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Baća, B. (2024). QAnon and the Epistemic Communities of the Unreal: A Conceptual Toolkit for a Sociology of Grassroots Conspiracism. Theory, Culture & Society, 41(4), 111-132. doi:10.1177/02632764241258404
Theoretical article that rejects reducing conspiracism to psychopathology or pseudoscience and draws on cognitive mapping, narrative emplotment and performative citizenship to study QAnon.
BibTeX
@article{baca2024qanon, author = {Baća, Bojan}, title = {{QAnon and the Epistemic Communities of the Unreal: A Conceptual Toolkit for a Sociology of Grassroots Conspiracism}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Theory, Culture \& Society}, volume = {41}, pages = {111--132}, doi = {10.1177/02632764241258404}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764241258404}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Bose, F. (2024). Does the New World Order Worship Satan?. Journal for the Study of Radicalism, 18(1), 149-180. doi:10.14321/jstudradi.18.1.0149
The article applies the economics and sociology of churches and sects to QAnon: Iannaccone's 'sacrifice and stigma' model for Q's theory of elites and its historical precedents, and the church-sect model for the Anons' social structure. It thereby explains how rational individuals join these conspiratorial networks.
BibTeX
@article{bose2024new, author = {Bose, Feler}, title = {{Does the New World Order Worship Satan?}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Journal for the Study of Radicalism}, volume = {18}, pages = {149--180}, doi = {10.14321/jstudradi.18.1.0149}, url = {https://doi.org/10.14321/jstudradi.18.1.0149}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Conoscenti, M. (2024). Ockham's Razor Overturned: QAnon Null Interaction on Telegram. A Comparative Study.. Textus, XXXVII(1), 35-60. https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1973691
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of a corpus of QAnon Telegram channel posts using positive discourse analysis, netnography and OSINT techniques. It compares the Qlobal-Change USA and Qlobal-Change Italia channels, identifying recurring themes and semantic areas.
BibTeX
@article{conoscenti2024ockham, author = {Conoscenti, Michelangelo}, title = {{Ockham's Razor Overturned: QAnon Null Interaction on Telegram. A Comparative Study.}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Textus}, volume = {XXXVII}, pages = {35--60}, url = {https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1973691}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Conway, P. R. (2024). Repressive suspicion, or: the problem with conspiracy theories. Cultural Studies, 39(4), 514-545. doi:10.1080/09502386.2024.2364260
An article coining the concept of 'repressive suspicion' through a reception study of QAnon that traces how one of the most prominent participants in the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack became wrapped up in 'Q' culture. The concept is then developed with Marcuse and with Gramsci, Stuart Hall and Nancy Fraser, reading QAnon as a microcosm of the contemporary crisis of hegemony.
BibTeX
@article{conway2024repressive, author = {Conway, Philip R.}, title = {{Repressive suspicion, or: the problem with conspiracy theories}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Cultural Studies}, volume = {39}, pages = {514--545}, doi = {10.1080/09502386.2024.2364260}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09502386.2024.2364260}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Corman, L. (2024). “Pageantry of aggression”: QAnon, animality, and the violent pursuit of whiteness. Frontiers in Communication, 9, 1461250. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2024.1461250
An article analysing, through mainstream news accounts, the animal-themed attire of Jacob Chansley, the so-called 'QAnon Shaman', at the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot. Drawing on critical race theory and critical animal studies, it reads it as an enactment of white supremacy.
BibTeX
@article{corman2024pageantry, author = {Corman, Lauren}, title = {{“Pageantry of aggression”: QAnon, animality, and the violent pursuit of whiteness}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Frontiers in Communication}, volume = {9}, pages = {1461250}, doi = {10.3389/fcomm.2024.1461250}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2024.1461250}, langid = {english} } -
Demelius, Y. & Szczepanska, K. (2024). Conspiracy theories and the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: the rise, radicalization, and fall (?) of YamatoQ-kai. Social Science Japan Journal, 27(2), 149-168. doi:10.1093/ssjj/jyae003
Case study, drawing on social movement theory, of YamatoQ-kai, a Japanese organisation born from conspiracy influencers and active against vaccination during the pandemic. Using its online posts and press reports, it shows how the group adopted QAnon's rhetoric in a Japanised form and created experiences of solidarity for followers.
BibTeX
@article{demelius2024yamatoq, author = {Demelius, Yoko and Szczepanska, Kamila}, title = {{Conspiracy theories and the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: the rise, radicalization, and fall (?) of YamatoQ-kai}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Social Science Japan Journal}, volume = {27}, pages = {149--168}, doi = {10.1093/ssjj/jyae003}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ssjj/jyae003}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Greer, K. & Beene, S. (2024). When belief becomes research: conspiracist communities on the social web. Frontiers in Communication, 9. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2024.1345973
Study of two QAnon subgroups that emerged after the movement's initial phase, through the lens of information literacy. The authors identify growing religiosity, affective states conducive to conspiracy ideation and literacy gaps, and suggest approaches for librarians and educators.
BibTeX
@article{greer2024when, author = {Greer, Katie and Beene, Stephanie}, title = {{When belief becomes research: conspiracist communities on the social web}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Frontiers in Communication}, volume = {9}, doi = {10.3389/fcomm.2024.1345973}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2024.1345973}, langid = {english} } -
Jensen, M. A. & Kane, S. (2024). QAnon-inspired violence in the United States: an empirical assessment of a misunderstood threat. Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 16(1), 65-83. doi:10.1080/19434472.2021.2013292
Examination of 100 QAnon sympathisers who committed crimes in the United States through August 2021: the authors conclude QAnon is dangerous but not a traditional terrorist threat. Published online in 2021.
BibTeX
@article{jensen2024qanon, author = {Jensen, Michael A. and Kane, Sheehan}, title = {{QAnon-inspired violence in the United States: an empirical assessment of a misunderstood threat}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression}, volume = {16}, pages = {65--83}, doi = {10.1080/19434472.2021.2013292}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/19434472.2021.2013292}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Levstock, L. (2024). QAnon in den sozialen Medien: Zur Reproduktion antisemitischer Topoi auf Facebook. ELAD-SILDA. Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3. doi:10.35562/elad-silda.1423
The article examines how antisemitic topoi are reproduced within the QAnon milieu, not among its leading figures but among ordinary commenters on Facebook. It relies on a linguistic analysis of comments posted under contributions from this milieu.
BibTeX
@article{levstock2024qanon, author = {Levstock, Laura}, title = {{QAnon in den sozialen Medien: Zur Reproduktion antisemitischer Topoi auf Facebook}}, year = {2024}, journal = {ELAD-SILDA}, publisher = {Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3}, doi = {10.35562/elad-silda.1423}, number = {9}, langid = {german} } -
Marwick, A. E. & Partin, W. C. (2024). Constructing alternative facts: Populist expertise and the QAnon conspiracy. New Media & Society, 26(5), 2535-2555. doi:10.1177/14614448221090201
Study of QAnon followers' 'research' practices, described as a populist expertise that mimics the forms of scholarly knowledge production. Published online in 2022.
BibTeX
@article{marwick2024constructing, author = {Marwick, Alice E. and Partin, William Clyde}, title = {{Constructing alternative facts: Populist expertise and the QAnon conspiracy}}, year = {2024}, journal = {New Media \& Society}, volume = {26}, pages = {2535--2555}, doi = {10.1177/14614448221090201}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221090201}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Mastrangelo, F. & Longo, G. M. (2024). Downlining Disinformation: How MLM Distributors Use Gendered Strategies for Recruitment and Pastel QAnon Indoctrination. Social Media + Society, 10(1). doi:10.1177/20563051231224735
Through qualitative content analysis of distributors for two essential-oil multi-level marketing companies and of 'Pastel QAnon' influencers, the article describes a three-step strategy for recruiting women. It builds on distrust of medicine and structural inequalities, then steers recruits towards Pastel QAnon spaces at the nexus of wellness, New Age spirituality and far-right ideology.
BibTeX
@article{mastrangelo2024downlining, author = {Mastrangelo, Frankie and Longo, Gina Marie}, title = {{Downlining Disinformation: How MLM Distributors Use Gendered Strategies for Recruitment and Pastel QAnon Indoctrination}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Social Media + Society}, volume = {10}, doi = {10.1177/20563051231224735}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231224735}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Mastroni, L. & Mooney, R. (2024). “I one-hundred thousand percent blame it on QAnon”: The impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41(9), 2478-2499. doi:10.1177/02654075241246124
Fifteen people with a QAnon-affiliated loved one were interviewed about how their relationship changed, and the interviews were analysed thematically. Four themes emerge (QAnon as a malignant force, distance, conflict, attempts at healing): participants communicate less with their loved one but are often motivated to understand them and preserve the relationship.
BibTeX
@article{mastroni2024onehundred, author = {Mastroni, Lauren and Mooney, Robyn}, title = {{“I one-hundred thousand percent blame it on QAnon”: The impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Social and Personal Relationships}, volume = {41}, pages = {2478--2499}, doi = {10.1177/02654075241246124}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075241246124}, number = {9}, langid = {english} } -
McAulay, J. (2024). Into the Storm: QAnon and the Appeal of Conspiracist Millennialism in Far-Right and Fascist Political Movements. St Antony's International Review, 20(1), 56-76. https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/38374/
Case study of QAnon examining the role of conspiracist and millennialist movements in the success of far-right parties. The article places QAnon within the historical relationship between far-right or fascist parties and millennialist movements, and distinguishes it from pre- and post-war fascist conspiracist movements.
BibTeX
@article{mcaulay2024storm, author = {McAulay, J.}, title = {{Into the Storm: QAnon and the Appeal of Conspiracist Millennialism in Far-Right and Fascist Political Movements}}, year = {2024}, journal = {St Antony's International Review}, volume = {20}, pages = {56--76}, url = {https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/38374/}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
McCabe, S. D., Ferrari, D., Green, J., Lazer, D. M. J. & Esterling, K. M. (2024-06-05). Post-January 6th deplatforming reduced the reach of misinformation on Twitter. Nature, 630(8015). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07524-8
Evaluation, using a panel of over 500,000 active users and natural-experiment designs, of Twitter's sudden deplatforming of 70,000 misinformation traffickers after 6 January 2021 (a wave Twitter tied to QAnon accounts). The intervention reduced misinformation circulation by deplatformed users and their followers, and many non-deplatformed traffickers left the platform; the causal magnitude cannot be separated from concurrent events.
BibTeX
@article{mccabe2024post, author = {McCabe, Stefan D. and Ferrari, Diogo and Green, Jon and Lazer, David M. J. and Esterling, Kevin M.}, title = {{Post-January 6th deplatforming reduced the reach of misinformation on Twitter}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {630}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-024-07524-8}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07524-8}, number = {8015}, date = {2024-06-05}, langid = {english} } -
Mimizuka, K., Rodarte, A. K. & Arif, A. (2024). On the fly: How Japanese social media “watchers” improvise to counter problematic information. New Media & Society, 28(2), 720-738. SAGE Publications. doi:10.1177/14614448241302311
Based on interviews with twelve 'watchers', the study analyses how Japanese social media users monitored and countered YamatoQ, a pro-QAnon Japanese conspiracy group. It shows that positive emotions and collective participation can also help limit the spread of problematic information.
BibTeX
@article{mimizuka2024fly, author = {Mimizuka, Kayo and Rodarte, André K and Arif, Ahmer}, title = {{On the fly: How Japanese social media “watchers” improvise to counter problematic information}}, year = {2024}, journal = {New Media \& Society}, volume = {28}, pages = {720--738}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, doi = {10.1177/14614448241302311}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Miotto, N. & Droogan, J. (2024). ‘Stand Against the Wiles of the Devil’: Interpreting QAnon as a Pseudo-Christian Extremist Movement. Critical Sociology, 51(3), 503-526. doi:10.1177/08969205241228744
Semiotic and hermeneutic analysis of 121 religious images from QAnon Telegram channels over 18 months, sorted into types all shaped by Christian theological themes. The authors relate this imagery to US evangelicalism and liberation theology, shedding light on links between QAnon, anti-government protest and violence.
BibTeX
@article{miotto2024stand, author = {Miotto, Nicolò and Droogan, Julian}, title = {{‘Stand Against the Wiles of the Devil’: Interpreting QAnon as a Pseudo-Christian Extremist Movement}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Critical Sociology}, volume = {51}, pages = {503--526}, doi = {10.1177/08969205241228744}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/08969205241228744}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Moore, R. C., Dahlke, R., Forberg, P. L. & Hancock, J. T. (2024). The Private Life of QAnon: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Americans' Exposure to QAnon Content on the Web. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 8(CSCW2), 1-34. doi:10.1145/3687057
The study analyses 21 million website visits collected from a nationally representative sample of 1,238 American adults across laptops, smartphones and tablets during the 2020 election, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Exposure to QAnon websites is limited, stratified by ideology and news consumption, and occurs mostly within right-wing media ecosystems.
BibTeX
@article{moore2024private, author = {Moore, Ryan C and Dahlke, Ross and Forberg, Peter L and Hancock, Jeffrey T}, title = {{The Private Life of QAnon: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Americans' Exposure to QAnon Content on the Web}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction}, volume = {8}, pages = {1--34}, doi = {10.1145/3687057}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3687057}, number = {CSCW2}, langid = {english} } -
Moskalenko, S., Pavlović, T. & Burton, B. (2024). QAnon Beliefs, Political Radicalization and Support for January 6th Insurrection: A Gendered Perspective. Terrorism and Political Violence, 36(7), 962-981. doi:10.1080/09546553.2023.2236230
An online survey of 429 US participants measures QAnon beliefs, political radicalisation, support for the January 6 riot and Big Five personality traits. QAnon beliefs correlate with radical action intentions and support for the riot; in the sample women endorse them more, and the links between personality and radicalisation differ by gender.
BibTeX
@article{moskalenko2024qanon, author = {Moskalenko, Sophia and Pavlović, Tomislav and Burton, Brett}, title = {{QAnon Beliefs, Political Radicalization and Support for January 6th Insurrection: A Gendered Perspective}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Terrorism and Political Violence}, volume = {36}, pages = {962--981}, doi = {10.1080/09546553.2023.2236230}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2023.2236230}, number = {7}, langid = {english} } -
Moskalenko, S., Pavlović, T. & Romanova, E. (2024). Mere exposure to conspiracy theories: effects on radical intentions among believers and nonbelievers. Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 18(2), 163-187. doi:10.1080/19434472.2024.2396282
An experiment with 1,736 US participants exposed to four conspiracy theories drawn from QAnon and Russian propaganda, before or after questions on their activist and radical intentions. Exposure significantly increased radical intentions, more so among those who already believed the narratives.
BibTeX
@article{moskalenko2024mere, author = {Moskalenko, Sophia and Pavlović, Tomislav and Romanova, Ekaterina}, title = {{Mere exposure to conspiracy theories: effects on radical intentions among believers and nonbelievers}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression}, volume = {18}, pages = {163--187}, doi = {10.1080/19434472.2024.2396282}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/19434472.2024.2396282}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Pacheco Gómez, M., Freire, I. M. & Lienert Lubisco, N. M. (2024). Frohmann ou González de Gómez: fique com os dois!. Revista Conhecimento em Ação, 9, e62838. doi:10.47681/rca.v9i.62838
An information-science article applying Frohmann's and González de Gómez's theories of the 'information regime' to data from research on QAnon conducted through documentary analysis and non-participant observation. It describes the actors, devices and artefacts through which the QAnon network exerts its hold over its users.
BibTeX
@article{gomez2024frohmann, author = {Pacheco Gómez, Michelle and Freire, Isa Maria and Lienert Lubisco, Nídia Maria}, title = {{Frohmann ou González de Gómez: fique com os dois!}}, year = {2024}, journal = {Revista Conhecimento em Ação}, volume = {9}, pages = {e62838}, doi = {10.47681/rca.v9i.62838}, url = {https://doi.org/10.47681/rca.v9i.62838}, langid = {portuguese} } -
Silva, E. C. d. M. (2024). New world order, globalism and QAnon communities on Brazilian Telegram: how conspiracism opens doors to more harmful groups. arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.12983. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2409.12983
A preprint, part of a series of seven studies using a mirrored method, characterising Brazilian conspiracy communities on Telegram devoted to the 'New World Order', globalism and QAnon. QAnon appears as a hub narrative connecting these themes, whose mentions rise during crises.
BibTeX
@article{silva2024new, author = {Silva, Ergon Cugler de Moraes}, title = {{New world order, globalism and QAnon communities on Brazilian Telegram: how conspiracism opens doors to more harmful groups}}, year = {2024}, journal = {arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.12983}, doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2409.12983}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.12983}, langid = {english} } -
Zhang, Y., Yue, Z., Yang, X., Chen, F. & Kwak, N. (2024). How a peripheral ideology becomes mainstream: Strategic performance, audience reaction, and news media amplification in the case of QAnon Twitter accounts. New Media & Society, 26(10), 5597-5618. doi:10.1177/14614448221137324
The authors analyse 242 QAnon Twitter accounts using topic modelling and time-series modelling. In-group solidarity and out-group animosity tweets boost retweets but not followers; rising retweets and followers drive news media amplification, mostly by right-wing outlets, which in turn encourages more out-group animosity.
BibTeX
@article{zhang2024peripheral, author = {Zhang, Yini and Yue, Zhiying and Yang, Xiyu and Chen, Fan and Kwak, Nojin}, title = {{How a peripheral ideology becomes mainstream: Strategic performance, audience reaction, and news media amplification in the case of QAnon Twitter accounts}}, year = {2024}, journal = {New Media \& Society}, volume = {26}, pages = {5597--5618}, doi = {10.1177/14614448221137324}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221137324}, number = {10}, langid = {english} } -
Beyer, H. & Herrberg, N. (2023). The revelations of Q. Dissemination and resonance of the QAnon conspiracy theory among US Evangelical Christians and the role of the Covid-19 crisis. Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik, 7(2), 669-687. doi:10.1007/s41682-023-00147-2
Using three waves (2019-2020) of the Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel, the study tests a mediation between evangelical dogma and receptiveness to QAnon. QAnon support is linked to Covid-19 conspiracy beliefs and to three traits associated with evangelicalism: belief in absolute truth, Manichaeism and immanent eschatology.
BibTeX
@article{beyer2023revelations, author = {Beyer, Heiko and Herrberg, Niklas}, title = {{The revelations of Q. Dissemination and resonance of the QAnon conspiracy theory among US Evangelical Christians and the role of the Covid-19 crisis}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik}, volume = {7}, pages = {669--687}, doi = {10.1007/s41682-023-00147-2}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s41682-023-00147-2}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Bleakley, P. (2023). Panic, pizza and mainstreaming the alt-right: A social media analysis of Pizzagate and the rise of the QAnon conspiracy. Current Sociology, 71(3), 509-525. doi:10.1177/00113921211034896
Thematic analysis of 767 Pizzagate tweets at five key moments over four years, showing how QAnon weaponised the theory in its campaign of support for Donald Trump. Published online in 2021.
BibTeX
@article{bleakley2023panic, author = {Bleakley, Paul}, title = {{Panic, pizza and mainstreaming the alt-right: A social media analysis of Pizzagate and the rise of the QAnon conspiracy}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Current Sociology}, volume = {71}, pages = {509--525}, doi = {10.1177/00113921211034896}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/00113921211034896}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Cacopardi, I. (2023). QAnon, une guerre culturelle entre canulars et nouveaux mythes. Cahiers d’histoire. Revue d’histoire critique, 156, 113-128. doi:10.4000/chrhc.21294
The article traces QAnon's birth and development, proposes a definition, then examines the link suggested by some press outlets with the Luther Blissett Project and its novel Q. A direct link remains uncertain, but the author sees in the case a breakdown in the legitimation of knowledge.
BibTeX
@article{cacopardi2023qanon, author = {Cacopardi, Irène}, title = {{QAnon, une guerre culturelle entre canulars et nouveaux mythes}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Cahiers d’histoire. Revue d’histoire critique}, volume = {156}, pages = {113--128}, doi = {10.4000/chrhc.21294}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4000/chrhc.21294}, langid = {french} } -
Cafiero, F. & Camps, J. B. (2023). Who could be behind QAnon? Authorship attribution with supervised machine-learning. Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, 38(4), 1418-1430. doi:10.1093/llc/fqad061
Authorship attribution of the Q drops with supervised machine learning, comparing their style with a list of suspects from journalistic investigations; the study links early drops to Paul Furber and later ones to Ron Watkins, both of whom deny it. Preprint on Zenodo (February 2022, doi 10.5281/zenodo.6164620).
BibTeX
@article{cafiero2023who, author = {Cafiero, Florian and Camps, Jean-Baptiste}, title = {{Who could be behind QAnon? Authorship attribution with supervised machine-learning}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Digital Scholarship in the Humanities}, volume = {38}, pages = {1418--1430}, doi = {10.1093/llc/fqad061}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqad061}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Celestini, C. & Amarasingam, A. (2023). Reviving the violet flame: The new age conspiratorial journey of Canada’s Queen Romana Didulo. Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 53(3), 366-389. SAGE Publications. doi:10.1177/00084298231209700
The article traces the trajectory of Romana Didulo, the self-proclaimed 'Queen of Canada', who became an influencer within the QAnon movement by exploiting the pandemic and Q's silence. It shows how her movement draws on a 1930s-1940s theosophical current, the I AM movement.
BibTeX
@article{celestini2023reviving, author = {Celestini, Carmen and Amarasingam, Amarnath}, title = {{Reviving the violet flame: The new age conspiratorial journey of Canada’s Queen Romana Didulo}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses}, volume = {53}, pages = {366--389}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, doi = {10.1177/00084298231209700}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Cera, M. (2023). Digital ethnography: ethics through the case of QAnon. Frontiers in Sociology, 8. doi:10.3389/fsoc.2023.1119531
Drawing on original digital ethnographic research in QAnon social media spaces, the article discusses the public-private binary, lurking, data reconstruction and institutional review boards. It recommends rethinking that binary, making the researcher's presence known where appropriate, and avoiding the reconstruction of quoted data.
BibTeX
@article{cera2023digital, author = {Cera, Michelle}, title = {{Digital ethnography: ethics through the case of QAnon}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Frontiers in Sociology}, volume = {8}, doi = {10.3389/fsoc.2023.1119531}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1119531}, langid = {english} } -
Conner, C. T. (2023). QAnon, authoritarianism, and conspiracy within American alternative spiritual spaces. Frontiers in Sociology, 8. doi:10.3389/fsoc.2023.1136333
Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, the author analyses 1,000 hours of content produced by 100 QAnon influencers (4,104 images and 122 videos). He identifies three cultural entry points rarely associated with the movement: yoga and wellness groups, neo-shamanic circles and psychics, through which QAnon embedded itself largely unnoticed.
BibTeX
@article{conner2023qanon, author = {Conner, Christopher T.}, title = {{QAnon, authoritarianism, and conspiracy within American alternative spiritual spaces}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Frontiers in Sociology}, volume = {8}, doi = {10.3389/fsoc.2023.1136333}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1136333}, langid = {english} } -
Enders, A., Klofstad, C., Stoler, J. & Uscinski, J. E. (2023). How Anti-Social Personality Traits and Anti-Establishment Views Promote Beliefs in Election Fraud, QAnon, and COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation. American Politics Research, 51(2), 247-259. doi:10.1177/1532673x221139434
Survey showing that antisocial personality traits and anti-establishment attitudes predict belief in election-fraud claims, QAnon and COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
BibTeX
@article{enders2023how, author = {Enders, Adam and Klofstad, Casey and Stoler, Justin and Uscinski, Joseph E.}, title = {{How Anti-Social Personality Traits and Anti-Establishment Views Promote Beliefs in Election Fraud, QAnon, and COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation}}, year = {2023}, journal = {American Politics Research}, volume = {51}, pages = {247--259}, doi = {10.1177/1532673x221139434}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1532673x221139434}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Farahmand, M., Piraud, M. & Rouiller, S. (2023). « QAnon pastel » ou la surprenante convergence entre conspirationnisme politique et spiritualités New Age : Cyber-ethnographie d’activistes francophones. Anthropologica, 65(1). doi:10.18357/anthropologica65120232601
This cyber-ethnography by the Geneva-based Centre intercantonal d'information sur les croyances analyses over 60 videos and interactive spaces relaying QAnon discourse in French-speaking Switzerland between 2020 and 2023. It shows, in the Covid-19 context, a politicisation of actors in the holistic milieu and, conversely, a softening of QAnon claims into a New Age millenarian narrative.
BibTeX
@article{farahmand2023pastel, author = {Farahmand, Manéli and Piraud, Mischa and Rouiller, Sybille}, title = {{« QAnon pastel » ou la surprenante convergence entre conspirationnisme politique et spiritualités New Age : Cyber-ethnographie d’activistes francophones}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Anthropologica}, volume = {65}, doi = {10.18357/anthropologica65120232601}, url = {https://doi.org/10.18357/anthropologica65120232601}, number = {1}, langid = {french} } -
Foertsch, S., Chakraborty, R. & Joosse, P. (2023). Asymmetric conflation: QAnon and the political cooptation of religion. Politics and Religion, 1-23. doi:10.1017/s1755048323000275
Addressing the debate between readings of QAnon as a religious 'cult' or as a populist movement, the authors use quantitative and qualitative methods to test whether it is a mix of both. The results indicate that QAnon is primarily a political populist movement that uses religious rhetoric.
BibTeX
@article{foertsch2023asymmetric, author = {Foertsch, Steven and Chakraborty, Rudra and Joosse, Paul}, title = {{Asymmetric conflation: QAnon and the political cooptation of religion}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Politics and Religion}, pages = {1--23}, doi = {10.1017/s1755048323000275}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s1755048323000275}, langid = {english} } -
Forberg, P. L. (2023). “No Cult Tells You to Think for Yourself”: Discursive Ideology and the Limits of Rationality in Conspiracy Theory QAnon. American Behavioral Scientist, 67(5), 649-664. doi:10.1177/00027642221091199
The article offers a discursive framework describing how QAnon followers translate the movement's political epistemology into personal ideologies: a general plot, the parameters of conflict, their own role, and a canon. Rather than treating them as irrational, it shows how they wrestle with the narrative's contradictions to build personalised political truths.
BibTeX
@article{forberg2023nocult, author = {Forberg, Peter L.}, title = {{“No Cult Tells You to Think for Yourself”: Discursive Ideology and the Limits of Rationality in Conspiracy Theory QAnon}}, year = {2023}, journal = {American Behavioral Scientist}, volume = {67}, pages = {649--664}, doi = {10.1177/00027642221091199}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642221091199}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Hanley, H. W. A., Kumar, D. & Durumeric, Z. (2023-09-28). A Golden Age: Conspiracy Theories' Relationship with Misinformation Outlets, News Media, and the Wider Internet. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 7(CSCW2). Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). doi:10.1145/3610043
Construction and release of a set of 755 websites devoted to five conspiracy theories (QAnon, COVID, UFOs, 9/11, flat Earth) and analysis of their hyperlinks with authentic and misinformation news outlets. QAnon and COVID sites share the most external connections, and hyperlinking from misinformation outlets to these sites rose sharply between 2018 and 2021.
BibTeX
@article{hanley2023golden, author = {Hanley, Hans W. A. and Kumar, Deepak and Durumeric, Zakir}, title = {{A Golden Age: Conspiracy Theories' Relationship with Misinformation Outlets, News Media, and the Wider Internet}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction}, volume = {7}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)}, doi = {10.1145/3610043}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3610043}, number = {CSCW2}, date = {2023-09-28}, langid = {english} } -
Himelboim, I., Borah, P., Lee, D. K. L., Lee, J. (., Su, Y., Vishnevskaya, A., et al. (2023-01-04). What do 5G networks, Bill Gates, Agenda 21, and QAnon have in common? Sources, distribution, and characteristics. New Media & Society, 26(10). SAGE Publications. doi:10.1177/14614448221142800
Analysis of the information sources used on Twitter to support five COVID-19-related conspiracy theories and of the link between content type and distribution. Only malicious-purpose and secretive-action messages predicted wider distribution; 'mega-theories' such as QAnon and Agenda 21 contained fewer belief statements, with QAnon emphasising the conspirators behind the pandemic.
BibTeX
@article{himelboim2023what, author = {Himelboim, Itai and Borah, Porismita and Lee, Danielle Ka Lai and Lee, Jeonghyun (Janice) and Su, Yan and Vishnevskaya, Anastasia and Xiao, Xizhu}, title = {{What do 5G networks, Bill Gates, Agenda 21, and QAnon have in common? Sources, distribution, and characteristics}}, year = {2023}, journal = {New Media \& Society}, volume = {26}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, doi = {10.1177/14614448221142800}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221142800}, number = {10}, date = {2023-01-04}, langid = {english} } -
Hodges, J. A. (2023). Taxonomizing Information Practices in a Large Conspiracy Movement: Using Early QAnon as a Case Study. Information & Culture, 58(2), 129-144. doi:10.7560/ic58201
The article builds a taxonomy of the information practices visible in 4chan /pol/ thread #147547939, which introduced several key elements of the QAnon narrative. It shows that early participants did not merely fabricate falsehoods but also read authentic sources in suspicious and idiosyncratic ways.
BibTeX
@article{hodges2023taxonomizing, author = {Hodges, James A.}, title = {{Taxonomizing Information Practices in a Large Conspiracy Movement: Using Early QAnon as a Case Study}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Information \& Culture}, volume = {58}, pages = {129--144}, doi = {10.7560/ic58201}, url = {https://doi.org/10.7560/ic58201}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Jones, C. (2023). ‘We the people, not the sheeple’: QAnon and the transnational mobilisation of millennialist far-right conspiracy theories. First Monday. doi:10.5210/fm.v28i3.12854
A content analysis of 1,000 tweets and 8kun posts, supplemented by a posting-frequency analysis of 37,782 tweets and 9,023 posts, examines transnational far-right and millennialist themes in Australian QAnon discourse. Australian communities integrate national narratives and describe a left-wing 'deep state' to be fought in a coming apocalypse in which they intend to take part.
BibTeX
@article{jones2023sheeple, author = {Jones, Callum}, title = {{‘We the people, not the sheeple’: QAnon and the transnational mobilisation of millennialist far-right conspiracy theories}}, year = {2023}, journal = {First Monday}, doi = {10.5210/fm.v28i3.12854}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v28i3.12854}, langid = {english} } -
Jordan, M. M. & Whitmer, J. M. (2023). “I Would Give Anything to Talk about Aliens Now”: QAnon Conspiracy Theories and the Creation of Cognitive Deviance. Sociological Perspectives, 66(6), 992-1014. doi:10.1177/07311214231181383
The study draws on in-depth interviews with 20 adults concerned about a family member's involvement in QAnon. Participants describe epistemic conflicts, out-of-character behaviour, broken boundaries and fears of future actions, documenting the point at which a belief becomes 'deviant' in the eyes of others.
BibTeX
@article{jordan2023aliens, author = {Jordan, Meggan M. and Whitmer, Jennifer Marie}, title = {{“I Would Give Anything to Talk about Aliens Now”: QAnon Conspiracy Theories and the Creation of Cognitive Deviance}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Sociological Perspectives}, volume = {66}, pages = {992--1014}, doi = {10.1177/07311214231181383}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/07311214231181383}, number = {6}, langid = {english} } -
Kim, S. & Kim, J. (2023). The Information Ecosystem of Conspiracy Theory: Examining the QAnon Narrative on Facebook. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 7(CSCW1), 1-24. doi:10.1145/3579626
Analysis of content from 2,813 Facebook pages and groups promoting QAnon (2017-2020): activity surged months before the 2020 election, with growing reliance on sources internal to Facebook.
BibTeX
@article{kim2023information, author = {Kim, Soojong and Kim, Jisu}, title = {{The Information Ecosystem of Conspiracy Theory: Examining the QAnon Narrative on Facebook}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction}, volume = {7}, pages = {1--24}, doi = {10.1145/3579626}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3579626}, number = {CSCW1}, langid = {english} } -
Kohnert, D. (2023). QAnon and Other Conspiracy Ideologies’ Impact on Sub-Saharan Africa in the Age of Global Capitalism. International Journal of African Studies, 3(2), 74-89. SvedbergOpen. doi:10.51483/ijafrs.3.2.2023.74-89
The article examines the influence of QAnon and other US-born conspiracy ideologies on sub-Saharan Africa. It situates their spread within global capitalism and within representations of Africa in American conspiracist discourse.
BibTeX
@article{kohnert2023qanon, author = {Kohnert, Dirk}, title = {{QAnon and Other Conspiracy Ideologies’ Impact on Sub-Saharan Africa in the Age of Global Capitalism}}, year = {2023}, journal = {International Journal of African Studies}, volume = {3}, pages = {74--89}, publisher = {SvedbergOpen}, doi = {10.51483/ijafrs.3.2.2023.74-89}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Lukito, J., Gursky, J., Foley, J., Yang, Y., Joseff, K. & Borah, P. (2023). “No Reason[.] [I]t /Should/ Happen here”: Analyzing Flynn’s Retroactive Doublespeak During a QAnon Event. Political Communication, 40(5), 576-595. doi:10.1080/10584609.2023.2185332
Drawing on news coverage, social media and ethnographic fieldwork at a QAnon conference, the study traces the reception of a controversial remark by a public figure and its after-the-fact reinterpretation. This 'retroactive doublespeak' persuaded some members to reinterpret the remark, but its effectiveness was limited.
BibTeX
@article{lukito2023doublespeak, author = {Lukito, Josephine and Gursky, Jacob and Foley, Jordan and Yang, Yunkang and Joseff, Katie and Borah, Porsmita}, title = {{“No Reason[.] [I]t /Should/ Happen here”: Analyzing Flynn’s Retroactive Doublespeak During a QAnon Event}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Political Communication}, volume = {40}, pages = {576--595}, doi = {10.1080/10584609.2023.2185332}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2023.2185332}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Monti, C., Cinelli, M., Valensise, C., Quattrociocchi, W. & Starnini, M. (2023-09-29). Online conspiracy communities are more resilient to deplatforming. PNAS Nexus, 2(10). Oxford University Press (OUP). doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad324
Comparison of user behaviour after Reddit banned r/GreatAwakening (QAnon) and r/FatPeopleHate, both of which partially migrated to Voat. Conspiracy community members were much more likely to leave Reddit for Voat, kept a similar activity level there and recreated their social network, while toxicity rose sharply.
BibTeX
@article{monti2023online, author = {Monti, Corrado and Cinelli, Matteo and Valensise, Carlo and Quattrociocchi, Walter and Starnini, Michele}, title = {{Online conspiracy communities are more resilient to deplatforming}}, year = {2023}, journal = {PNAS Nexus}, volume = {2}, publisher = {Oxford University Press (OUP)}, doi = {10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad324}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad324}, number = {10}, date = {2023-09-29}, langid = {english} } -
Moskalenko, S., Burton, B. S., Fernández-Garayzábal González, J. & Bloom, M. M. (2023). Secondhand Conspiracy Theories: The Social, Emotional and Political Tolls on Loved Ones of QAnon Followers. Democracy and Security, 19(3), 231-250. doi:10.1080/17419166.2022.2111305
Online survey of relatives and friends of QAnon followers describing the emotional, social and political toll of these relationships, a previously unexplored cost of conspiracy beliefs.
BibTeX
@article{moskalenko2023secondhand, author = {Moskalenko, Sophia and Burton, B. S. and Fernández-Garayzábal González, J. and Bloom, M. M.}, title = {{Secondhand Conspiracy Theories: The Social, Emotional and Political Tolls on Loved Ones of QAnon Followers}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Democracy and Security}, volume = {19}, pages = {231--250}, doi = {10.1080/17419166.2022.2111305}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/17419166.2022.2111305}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Roche Cárcel, J. A. (2023). The Religious Genesis of Conspiracy Theories and Their Consequences for Democracy and Religion: The Case of QAnon. Religions, 14(6), 734. doi:10.3390/rel14060734
This sociological essay approaches QAnon from three angles: historical (the religious genesis of conspiracy theories and their analogies with magic, religion and ritual), analytical (the QAnon belief system) and critical (its causes and effects). The author concludes that QAnon undermines both the coherence of religious belief and democracy, and describes it as a form of libertarian authoritarianism and populism.
BibTeX
@article{rochecarcel2023religious, author = {Roche Cárcel, Juan Antonio}, title = {{The Religious Genesis of Conspiracy Theories and Their Consequences for Democracy and Religion: The Case of QAnon}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Religions}, volume = {14}, pages = {734}, doi = {10.3390/rel14060734}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14060734}, number = {6}, langid = {english} } -
de Zeeuw, D. & Gekker, A. (2023). A God-Tier LARP? QAnon as Conspiracy Fictioning. Social Media + Society, 9(1). doi:10.1177/20563051231157300
The article returns to QAnon's origins on 4chan's /pol/ board, where Q's posts were first received as a possible LARP, and analyses it with concepts from play and performance studies. It proposes the notion of 'conspiracy fictioning' and revives that of hyperstition to explain how this participatory narrative came to bootstrap its own alternate reality.
BibTeX
@article{dezeeuw2023godtier, author = {de Zeeuw, Daniël and Gekker, Alex}, title = {{A God-Tier LARP? QAnon as Conspiracy Fictioning}}, year = {2023}, journal = {Social Media + Society}, volume = {9}, doi = {10.1177/20563051231157300}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231157300}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Beauchamp, J. D. (2022). Evangelical Identity and QAnon: Why Christians are Finding New Mission Fields in Political Conspiracy. Journal of Religion and Violence, 10(1), 17-36. doi:10.5840/jrv202271595
This integrative literature review examines why QAnon gained support so quickly among white evangelicals, drawing on cognitive dissonance theory. The author argues that the pandemic cut many evangelicals off from their community, that QAnon entered these circles by adopting the language and concerns of Christianity, and that the harm done can only be undone through spiritual practice.
BibTeX
@article{beauchamp2022evangelical, author = {Beauchamp, Jeremy D.}, title = {{Evangelical Identity and QAnon: Why Christians are Finding New Mission Fields in Political Conspiracy}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Journal of Religion and Violence}, volume = {10}, pages = {17--36}, doi = {10.5840/jrv202271595}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5840/jrv202271595}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Bloom, M. & Moskalenko, S. (2022). QAnon, Women, and the American Culture Wars. Social Research: An International Quarterly, 89(3), 525-550. doi:10.1353/sor.2022.0037
The authors examine the narratives and images used by QAnon and the psychology of its believers, especially women in the so-called 'Pastel QAnon' milieu. They argue that the movement meets a need for in-group belonging and gives these women a sense of empowerment as protectors of children against powerful abusers.
BibTeX
@article{bloom2022qanon, author = {Bloom, Mia and Moskalenko, Sophia}, title = {{QAnon, Women, and the American Culture Wars}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Social Research: An International Quarterly}, volume = {89}, pages = {525--550}, doi = {10.1353/sor.2022.0037}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2022.0037}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Cohen, S. J. (2022). QAnon as an Online-Facilitated Cult: Integrating Models of Belief, Practice, and Identity. Journal of Religion and Violence, 10(1), 37-71. doi:10.5840/jrv202272197
The article analyses QAnon as an apocalyptic 'digital cult', integrating psychological models of conspiracy belief with sociological and anthropological models of cults, including violent ones. It distinguishes creed, practice and social identity, and cautions against over-generalising, sensationalising or pathologising believers.
BibTeX
@article{cohen2022qanon, author = {Cohen, Shuki J.}, title = {{QAnon as an Online-Facilitated Cult: Integrating Models of Belief, Practice, and Identity}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Journal of Religion and Violence}, volume = {10}, pages = {37--71}, doi = {10.5840/jrv202272197}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5840/jrv202272197}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Cover, R., Thompson, J. D. & Haw, A. (2022). The Spectre of Populist Leadership: QAnon, Emergent Formations, and Digital Community. Media and Communication, 10(4), 118-128. doi:10.17645/mac.v10i4.5586
This theoretical article draws on cultural studies and digital communication research to analyse the 'spectral' leadership of an anonymous Q, in contrast to populisms centred on an identifiable leader or leaderless community movements. The authors describe Q as the simulacrum of a leader and QAnon as a new populist formation produced by digital affordances.
BibTeX
@article{cover2022spectre, author = {Cover, Rob and Thompson, Jay Daniel and Haw, Ashleigh}, title = {{The Spectre of Populist Leadership: QAnon, Emergent Formations, and Digital Community}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Media and Communication}, volume = {10}, pages = {118--128}, doi = {10.17645/mac.v10i4.5586}, url = {https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v10i4.5586}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Enders, A. M., Uscinski, J. E., Klofstad, C. A., Wuchty, S., Seelig, M. I., Funchion, J. R., et al. (2022). Who Supports QAnon? A Case Study in Political Extremism. The Journal of Politics, 84(3), 1844-1849. doi:10.1086/717850
Using six polls (2018-2020), shows that QAnon support is meagre and stable; it relates to the extremity rather than the direction of political orientations, and is best explained by conspiratorial worldviews and dark-triad personality traits.
BibTeX
@article{enders2022who, author = {Enders, Adam M. and Uscinski, Joseph E. and Klofstad, Casey A. and Wuchty, Stefan and Seelig, Michelle I. and Funchion, John R. and Murthi, Manohar N. and Premaratne, Kamal and Stoler, Justin}, title = {{Who Supports QAnon? A Case Study in Political Extremism}}, year = {2022}, journal = {The Journal of Politics}, volume = {84}, pages = {1844--1849}, doi = {10.1086/717850}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1086/717850}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Engel, K., Hua, Y., Zeng, T. & Naaman, M. (2022). Characterizing Reddit Participation of Users Who Engage in the QAnon Conspiracy Theories. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6(CSCW1), 1-22. doi:10.1145/3512900
Study of the Reddit-wide activity (2.1 million submissions, 10.8 million comments) of 13,000 users of the early QAnon communities banned in 2018.
BibTeX
@article{engel2022characterizing, author = {Engel, Kristen and Hua, Yiqing and Zeng, Taixiang and Naaman, Mor}, title = {{Characterizing Reddit Participation of Users Who Engage in the QAnon Conspiracy Theories}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction}, volume = {6}, pages = {1--22}, doi = {10.1145/3512900}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3512900}, number = {CSCW1}, langid = {english} } -
Fitzgerald, J. (2022). Conspiracy, anxiety, ontology: Theorising QAnon. First Monday, 27(5). doi:10.5210/fm.v27i5.12618
Theoretical account linking QAnon adherence to anxiety and the ontological insecurity of its followers.
BibTeX
@article{fitzgerald2022conspiracy, author = {Fitzgerald, James}, title = {{Conspiracy, anxiety, ontology: Theorising QAnon}}, year = {2022}, journal = {First Monday}, volume = {27}, doi = {10.5210/fm.v27i5.12618}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v27i5.12618}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Hodson, J. & Gosse, C. (2022). Lost in the Information Maze: Understanding the Multiple Drivers of QAnon Online Conspiracy Theories. Canadian Journal of Communication, 47(4), 730-744. doi:10.3138/cjc.2022-07-26
Drawing on a review of the literature on QAnon and conspiracy theories, the authors present conspiratorial ideation as a response to an uncertain social, political and digital environment. They argue for an ecological approach in which interventions target policy, culture, education and communities, not only platforms.
BibTeX
@article{hodson2022lost, author = {Hodson, Jaigris and Gosse, Chandell}, title = {{Lost in the Information Maze: Understanding the Multiple Drivers of QAnon Online Conspiracy Theories}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Communication}, volume = {47}, pages = {730--744}, doi = {10.3138/cjc.2022-07-26}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3138/cjc.2022-07-26}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Lee, C. S., Merizalde, J., Colautti, J. D., An, J. & Kwak, H. (2022). Storm the Capitol: Linking Offline Political Speech and Online Twitter Extra-Representational Participation on QAnon and the January 6 Insurrection. Frontiers in Sociology, 7. doi:10.3389/fsoc.2022.876070
The study combines Donald Trump's speeches in the run-up to 6 January 2021 with Twitter data on QAnon hashtags, using quantitative and thematic analysis over a three-day window. It finds links between this offline speech and the online political participation of QAnon accounts.
BibTeX
@article{lee2022storm, author = {Lee, Claire Seungeun and Merizalde, Juan and Colautti, John D. and An, Jisun and Kwak, Haewoon}, title = {{Storm the Capitol: Linking Offline Political Speech and Online Twitter Extra-Representational Participation on QAnon and the January 6 Insurrection}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Frontiers in Sociology}, volume = {7}, doi = {10.3389/fsoc.2022.876070}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2022.876070}, langid = {english} } -
Levin, I., Filindra, A. & Kopstein, J. S. (2022). Validating and testing a measure of anti‐semitism on support for QAnon and vote intention for Trump in 2020. Social Science Quarterly, 103(4), 794-809. doi:10.1111/ssqu.13155
Using two weighted national online surveys (January and August 2020), the authors validate a measure of antisemitism with Bayesian factor analysis and test it in regression models. Antisemitism shares more variance with xenophobia than with anti-Black prejudice and strongly predicts both QAnon support and intention to vote for Donald Trump.
BibTeX
@article{levin2022validating, author = {Levin, Ines and Filindra, Alexandra and Kopstein, Jeffrey S.}, title = {{Validating and testing a measure of anti‐semitism on support for QAnon and vote intention for Trump in 2020}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Social Science Quarterly}, volume = {103}, pages = {794--809}, doi = {10.1111/ssqu.13155}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.13155}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
McIntosh, J. (2022). The sinister signs of QAnon: Interpretive agency and paranoid truths in alt‐right oracles. Anthropology Today, 38(1), 8-12. doi:10.1111/1467-8322.12697
This linguistic-anthropological essay examines the cryptic writing style of the 'Q drops' and the interpretive stances it encourages in readers. It shows how the drops invoke secrecy and divination to project omniscience while casting the 'anon' who decodes them as an epistemological agent in their own right.
BibTeX
@article{mcintosh2022sinister, author = {McIntosh, Janet}, title = {{The sinister signs of QAnon: Interpretive agency and paranoid truths in alt‐right oracles}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Anthropology Today}, volume = {38}, pages = {8--12}, doi = {10.1111/1467-8322.12697}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8322.12697}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Morelock, J. & Narita, F. Z. (2022). The Nexus of QAnon and COVID-19: Legitimation Crisis and Epistemic Crisis. Critical Sociology, 48(6), 1005-1024. doi:10.1177/08969205211069614
This theoretical article draws on Habermas's legitimation crisis, Hofstadter's 'paranoid style' and the notion of epistemic crisis to analyse QAnon's rise during the Covid-19 pandemic, with examples from the United States and Brazil. The authors argue that QAnon fuelled Covid-19 conspiracy theories, which in turn propelled the movement.
BibTeX
@article{morelock2022nexus, author = {Morelock, Jeremiah and Narita, Felipe Ziotti}, title = {{The Nexus of QAnon and COVID-19: Legitimation Crisis and Epistemic Crisis}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Critical Sociology}, volume = {48}, pages = {1005--1024}, doi = {10.1177/08969205211069614}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/08969205211069614}, number = {6}, langid = {english} } -
Pasquetto, I. V., Olivieri, A. F., Tacchetti, L., Riotta, G. & Spada, A. (2022). Disinformation as Infrastructure: Making and Maintaining the QAnon Conspiracy on Italian Digital Media. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6(CSCW1), 1-31. doi:10.1145/3512931
Over eleven months, the authors examine how Italian QAnon supporters built and maintained a distributed 'infrastructure of disinformation' spanning social media, messaging apps, forums, alternative media, websites and aggregators. They show that this infrastructure stays stable and grows over time, and that deplatforming becomes less effective the later it happens.
BibTeX
@article{pasquetto2022disinformation, author = {Pasquetto, Irene V. and Olivieri, Alberto F. and Tacchetti, Luca and Riotta, Gianni and Spada, Alessandra}, title = {{Disinformation as Infrastructure: Making and Maintaining the QAnon Conspiracy on Italian Digital Media}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction}, volume = {6}, pages = {1--31}, doi = {10.1145/3512931}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3512931}, number = {CSCW1}, langid = {english} } -
Robertson, D. G. & Amarasingam, A. (2022). How conspiracy theorists argue: epistemic capital in the QAnon social media sphere. Popular Communication, 20(3), 193-207. doi:10.1080/15405702.2022.2050238
Mixed-methods analysis of Telegram posts from the right-leaning conspiracy milieu, using a model of six epistemic modes, to understand how authority is established ('epistemic capital').
BibTeX
@article{robertson2022how, author = {Robertson, David G. and Amarasingam, Amarnath}, title = {{How conspiracy theorists argue: epistemic capital in the QAnon social media sphere}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Popular Communication}, volume = {20}, pages = {193--207}, doi = {10.1080/15405702.2022.2050238}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/15405702.2022.2050238}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Robie, D. (2022). FRONTLINE 1: New Zealand’s 23-day Parliament siege: QAnon and how social media disinformation manufactured an ‘alternate reality’. Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 28(1 & 2), 105-113. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Library. doi:10.24135/pjr.v28i1and2.1265
A journalism-research piece on the 23-day anti-vaccine-mandate occupation of New Zealand's Parliament grounds (February-March 2022), which ended in clashes. It examines how conspiracist activist media and QAnon-inspired narratives built an 'alternate reality'.
BibTeX
@article{robie2022new, author = {Robie, David}, title = {{FRONTLINE 1: New Zealand’s 23-day Parliament siege: QAnon and how social media disinformation manufactured an ‘alternate reality’}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa}, volume = {28}, pages = {105--113}, publisher = {Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Library}, doi = {10.24135/pjr.v28i1and2.1265}, number = {1 \& 2}, langid = {english} } -
Rothschild, M. (2022). QAnon et le futur de la politique américaine. Hérodote, N° 184-185(1), 185-200. doi:10.3917/her.184.0185
Drawing on research for his book on QAnon, press reports, primary sources collected online and earlier studies, the author describes how widespread the belief is in American conservatism and its influence on the 2020 election. He argues that once-fringe ideas have become common in the Republican Party, even among people who have never heard of Q.
BibTeX
@article{rothschild2022qanon, author = {Rothschild, Mike}, title = {{QAnon et le futur de la politique américaine}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Hérodote}, volume = {N° 184-185}, pages = {185--200}, doi = {10.3917/her.184.0185}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3917/her.184.0185}, number = {1}, langid = {french} } -
Uscinski, J. E. (2022). Getting QAnon Wrong and Right. Social Research: An International Quarterly, 89(3), 551-578. doi:10.1353/sor.2022.0038
Critical article on 2020 media coverage of QAnon, which often overstated its size and influence, and on what opinion data actually support.
BibTeX
@article{uscinski2022getting, author = {Uscinski, Joseph E.}, title = {{Getting QAnon Wrong and Right}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Social Research: An International Quarterly}, volume = {89}, pages = {551--578}, doi = {10.1353/sor.2022.0038}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2022.0038}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Westmark, C. R. & McMahon, A. M. (2022). Identifying QAnon Conspiracy Theory Adherent Types. New Political Science, 44(4), 607-627. doi:10.1080/07393148.2022.2129927
Building on cognitive dissonance theory in the face of failed prophecies, the authors distinguish three types of QAnon adherents: Hardliners, Moderates who adapt their belief, and Bandwagoners who abandon it. They hypothesise that emphasising the gap between these beliefs and reality can accelerate Bandwagoners' disengagement.
BibTeX
@article{westmark2022identifying, author = {Westmark, Colton R. and McMahon, Adam M.}, title = {{Identifying QAnon Conspiracy Theory Adherent Types}}, year = {2022}, journal = {New Political Science}, volume = {44}, pages = {607--627}, doi = {10.1080/07393148.2022.2129927}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/07393148.2022.2129927}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Wu, V., Carey, J., Nyhan, B. & Reifler, J. (2022). Legislator criticism of a candidate's conspiracy beliefs reduces support for the conspiracy but not the candidate: Evidence from Marjorie Taylor Greene and QAnon. Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review. doi:10.37016/mr-2020-103
Survey experiment: lawmakers' criticism of Marjorie Taylor Greene's QAnon beliefs reduces support for the theory but not for the candidate.
BibTeX
@article{wu2022legislator, author = {Wu, Victor and Carey, John and Nyhan, Brendan and Reifler, Jason}, title = {{Legislator criticism of a candidate's conspiracy beliefs reduces support for the conspiracy but not the candidate: Evidence from Marjorie Taylor Greene and QAnon}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review}, doi = {10.37016/mr-2020-103}, url = {https://doi.org/10.37016/mr-2020-103}, langid = {english} } -
Xu, W. & Sasahara, K. (2022). A Network-Based Approach to QAnon User Dynamics and Topic Diversity During the COVID-19 Infodemic. APSIPA Transactions on Signal and Information Processing, 11(2), 1-23. doi:10.1561/116.00000055
Using a network-based approach, the study tracks pro-, anti- and less-leaning QAnon users on Twitter during the Covid-19 'infodemic', along with the topics they discuss. Pro and anti populations follow different dynamics, possibly shaped by Twitter suspensions, QAnon clusters include many bots, and the movement extends into a broader umbrella conspiracy theory.
BibTeX
@article{xu2022network, author = {Xu, Wentao and Sasahara, Kazutoshi}, title = {{A Network-Based Approach to QAnon User Dynamics and Topic Diversity During the COVID-19 Infodemic}}, year = {2022}, journal = {APSIPA Transactions on Signal and Information Processing}, volume = {11}, pages = {1--23}, doi = {10.1561/116.00000055}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1561/116.00000055}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Zihiri, S., Lima, G., Han, J., Cha, M. & Lee, W. (2022). QAnon shifts into the mainstream, remains a far-right ally. Heliyon, 8(2), e08764. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08764
Mixed-methods analysis of over 3.5 million Telegram messages from QAnon, far-right and far-left communities: QAnon differs from both but shares offline interests with the far right, and its topics are the least reactive to news cycles.
BibTeX
@article{zihiri2022qanon, author = {Zihiri, Saifeldeen and Lima, Gabriel and Han, Jiyoung and Cha, Meeyoung and Lee, Wonjae}, title = {{QAnon shifts into the mainstream, remains a far-right ally}}, year = {2022}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {8}, pages = {e08764}, doi = {10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08764}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08764}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Bracewell, L. (2021). Gender, Populism, and the QAnon Conspiracy Movement. Frontiers in Sociology, 5. doi:10.3389/fsoc.2020.615727
Essay examining QAnon's complex gender politics to broaden the study of gender and populism beyond its usual focus on men and masculinity.
BibTeX
@article{bracewell2021gender, author = {Bracewell, Lorna}, title = {{Gender, Populism, and the QAnon Conspiracy Movement}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Frontiers in Sociology}, volume = {5}, doi = {10.3389/fsoc.2020.615727}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2020.615727}, langid = {english} } -
Fehr, C. (2021). Verschwörungsmythen am Beispiel von QAnon und Neue Weltordnung – Eine rekonstruktive Metaphernanalyse. Soziologiemagazin, 14(1-2021), 27-43. Verlag Barbara Budrich. doi:10.3224/soz.v14i1.03
The article applies reconstructive metaphor analysis to QAnon and 'New World Order' narratives to reconstruct how believers construct social reality. It argues that purely pathologising accounts of adherents cannot explain the social functions these narratives fulfil.
BibTeX
@article{fehr2021verschworungsmythen, author = {Fehr, Charlotte}, title = {{Verschwörungsmythen am Beispiel von QAnon und Neue Weltordnung – Eine rekonstruktive Metaphernanalyse}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Soziologiemagazin}, volume = {14}, pages = {27--43}, publisher = {Verlag Barbara Budrich}, doi = {10.3224/soz.v14i1.03}, number = {1-2021}, langid = {german} } -
Garry, A., Walther, S., Mohamed, R. & Mohammed, A. (2021). QAnon Conspiracy Theory: Examining its Evolution and Mechanisms of Radicalization. Journal for Deradicalization, 152-216. https://jd.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/jd/article/v…
Study of QAnon's evolution and radicalisation mechanisms, combining data from the Storyzy monitoring platform with a survey of followers on Gab and Telegram, and discussing prevention policy. The journal later appended an editorial note following public criticism.
BibTeX
@article{garry2021qanon, author = {Garry, Amanda and Walther, Samantha and Mohamed, Rukaya and Mohammed, Ayan}, title = {{QAnon Conspiracy Theory: Examining its Evolution and Mechanisms of Radicalization}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Journal for Deradicalization}, pages = {152--216}, url = {https://jd.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/jd/article/view/437}, number = {26}, langid = {english} } -
Guénoun, T. (2021). La mouvance QAnon : un complexe de facticité du monde moderne. L'Évolution Psychiatrique, 86(2), 307-317. Elsevier. doi:10.1016/j.evopsy.2021.02.003
A clinical-psychology article in a French psychiatric journal that reads the QAnon movement as a 'complex of facticity' of the modern world. It is one of the first French-language academic analyses devoted specifically to QAnon.
BibTeX
@article{guenoun2021mouvance, author = {Guénoun, Tamara}, title = {{La mouvance QAnon : un complexe de facticité du monde moderne}}, year = {2021}, journal = {L'Évolution Psychiatrique}, volume = {86}, pages = {307--317}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.evopsy.2021.02.003}, url = {https://hal.univ-lyon2.fr/hal-03916603v1}, number = {2}, langid = {french} } -
Hannah, M. (2021). QAnon and the information dark age. First Monday, 26(2). doi:10.5210/fm.v26i2.10868
Reads QAnon as a collective practice of interpreting cryptic texts, symptomatic of a crisis of informational authority in the digital age.
BibTeX
@article{hannah2021qanon, author = {Hannah, Matthew}, title = {{QAnon and the information dark age}}, year = {2021}, journal = {First Monday}, volume = {26}, doi = {10.5210/fm.v26i2.10868}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v26i2.10868}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Kleinen-von Königslöw, K. & von Nordheim, G. (2021). Verschwörungstheorien in sozialen Netzwerken am Beispiel von QAnon. Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte. Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. https://www.bpb.de/apuz/verschwoerungstheorien-2021/339281/verschwoer…
A research-based article published by Germany's Federal Agency for Civic Education presenting QAnon as an 'omni-conspiracy' that aggregates older conspiracy motifs. It analyses the role of social networks in its spread and its presence in Germany, notably among the Reichsbürger and Querdenker.
BibTeX
@article{kleinenvonkonigslow2021verschworungstheorien, author = {Kleinen-von Königslöw, Katharina and von Nordheim, Gerret}, title = {{Verschwörungstheorien in sozialen Netzwerken am Beispiel von QAnon}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte}, publisher = {Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung}, url = {https://www.bpb.de/apuz/verschwoerungstheorien-2021/339281/verschwoerungstheorien-in-sozialen-netzwerken-am-beispiel-von-qanon}, langid = {german} } -
Linvill, D., Chambers, M., Duck, J. & Sheffield, S. (2021). Mapping the messenger: Exploring the disinformation of QAnon. First Monday, 26(12). doi:10.5210/fm.v26i12.11745
Qualitative analysis of all of Q's messages, sorted into five categories (hidden knowledge, undermining institutions, inspirational, administration and security, call to action); later messages are more political and less conspiratorial.
BibTeX
@article{linvill2021mapping, author = {Linvill, Darren and Chambers, Matthew and Duck, Jennifer and Sheffield, Steven}, title = {{Mapping the messenger: Exploring the disinformation of QAnon}}, year = {2021}, journal = {First Monday}, volume = {26}, doi = {10.5210/fm.v26i12.11745}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v26i12.11745}, number = {12}, langid = {english} } -
Miller, D. T. (2021). Characterizing QAnon: Analysis of YouTube comments presents new conclusions about a popular conservative conspiracy. First Monday, 26(2). doi:10.5210/fm.v26i2.10168
Computational analysis of YouTube comments posted under QAnon videos, characterising the community's themes and vocabulary.
BibTeX
@article{miller2021characterizing, author = {Miller, Daniel Taninecz}, title = {{Characterizing QAnon: Analysis of YouTube comments presents new conclusions about a popular conservative conspiracy}}, year = {2021}, journal = {First Monday}, volume = {26}, doi = {10.5210/fm.v26i2.10168}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v26i2.10168}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Moskalenko, S. (2021). Evolution of QAnon & Radicalization by Conspiracy Theories. The Journal of Intelligence, Conflict, and Warfare, 4(2), 109-114. doi:10.21810/jicw.v4i2.3756
Report of a presentation (CASIS workshop, September 2021) on QAnon's emergence and radicalisation through conspiracy theories that entertain and isolate.
BibTeX
@article{moskalenko2021evolution, author = {Moskalenko, Sophia}, title = {{Evolution of QAnon \& Radicalization by Conspiracy Theories}}, year = {2021}, journal = {The Journal of Intelligence, Conflict, and Warfare}, volume = {4}, pages = {109--114}, doi = {10.21810/jicw.v4i2.3756}, url = {https://doi.org/10.21810/jicw.v4i2.3756}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Packer, J. & Stoneman, E. (2021). Where We Produce One, We Produce All. Cultural Politics, 17(3), 255-278. doi:10.1215/17432197-9305338
Rhetorical and cultural analysis attributing part of QAnon's success to its exploitation of a technologically enabled mode of rhetoric, beyond widespread political distrust.
BibTeX
@article{packer2021where, author = {Packer, Joseph and Stoneman, Ethan}, title = {{Where We Produce One, We Produce All}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Cultural Politics}, volume = {17}, pages = {255--278}, doi = {10.1215/17432197-9305338}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1215/17432197-9305338}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Phadke, S., Samory, M. & Mitra, T. (2021-10-13). Characterizing Social Imaginaries and Self-Disclosures of Dissonance in Online Conspiracy Discussion Communities. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW2). Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). doi:10.1145/3479855
Mixed methods on 2K posts from 4chan and 8chan and 1.2M posts and comments from 12 QAnon subreddits to describe the movement's 'social imaginaries', followed by a computational framework separating belief, dissonance and general discussion. Self-disclosures of dissonance correlate with a significant drop in contributions and eventual departure from the community.
BibTeX
@article{phadke2021social, author = {Phadke, Shruti and Samory, Mattia and Mitra, Tanushree}, title = {{Characterizing Social Imaginaries and Self-Disclosures of Dissonance in Online Conspiracy Discussion Communities}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction}, volume = {5}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)}, doi = {10.1145/3479855}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3479855}, number = {CSCW2}, date = {2021-10-13}, langid = {english} } -
Priniski, J. H., McClay, M. & Holyoak, K. J. (2021-05-10). Rise of QAnon: A Mental Model of Good and Evil Stews in an Echochamber. arXiv preprint arXiv:2105.04632. https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.04632
Two computational studies of the network structure and semantic content of over 800,000 tweets about QAnon by about 100,000 users central to the early QAnon network, collected in summer 2018. Most users disseminated rather than produced information, forming an echo chamber, and appeared to hold a simplistic Good-versus-Evil mental model.
BibTeX
@article{priniski2021rise, author = {Priniski, J. Hunter and McClay, Mason and Holyoak, Keith J.}, title = {{Rise of QAnon: A Mental Model of Good and Evil Stews in an Echochamber}}, year = {2021}, journal = {arXiv preprint arXiv:2105.04632}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.04632}, date = {2021-05-10}, langid = {english} } -
Tollefson, J. (2021). Tracking QAnon: how Trump turned conspiracy-theory research upside down. Nature, 590(7845), 192-193. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00257-y
Nature news feature on how social scientists had to rethink their approaches to conspiracy theories in the face of QAnon and the Trump presidency.
BibTeX
@article{tollefson2021tracking, author = {Tollefson, Jeff}, title = {{Tracking QAnon: how Trump turned conspiracy-theory research upside down}}, year = {2021}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {590}, pages = {192--193}, doi = {10.1038/d41586-021-00257-y}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00257-y}, number = {7845}, langid = {english} } -
Amarasingam, A. & Argentino, M. A. (2020). The QAnon Conspiracy Theory: A Security Threat in the Making?. CTC Sentinel, 13(7). https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-qanon-conspiracy-theory-a-security-thre…
Review of cases of individuals who committed criminal or violent acts linked to QAnon. The authors conclude that the movement, less organised than jihadist or far-right groups, poses a novel security challenge.
BibTeX
@article{amarasingam2020qanon, author = {Amarasingam, Amarnath and Argentino, Marc-André}, title = {{The QAnon Conspiracy Theory: A Security Threat in the Making?}}, year = {2020}, journal = {CTC Sentinel}, volume = {13}, url = {https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-qanon-conspiracy-theory-a-security-threat-in-the-making/}, number = {7}, langid = {english} } -
Tangherlini, T. R., Shahsavari, S., Shahbazi, B., Ebrahimzadeh, E. & Roychowdhury, V. (2020-06-16). An automated pipeline for the discovery of conspiracy and conspiracy theory narrative frameworks: Bridgegate, Pizzagate and storytelling on the web. PLOS ONE, 15(6). Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0233879
Automated machine-learning pipeline that extracts actors and relationships from online posts and news articles to reconstruct the generative narrative framework of Pizzagate (2016, a forerunner of QAnon) and Bridgegate (2013, an actual conspiracy). Pizzagate links otherwise unconnected domains through the interpretation of 'hidden knowledge', whereas Bridgegate stays within New Jersey politics; the authors hypothesise that a conspiracy theory's narrative stabilises faster than that of a real conspiracy.
BibTeX
@article{tangherlini2020automated, author = {Tangherlini, Timothy R. and Shahsavari, Shadi and Shahbazi, Behnam and Ebrahimzadeh, Ehsan and Roychowdhury, Vwani}, title = {{An automated pipeline for the discovery of conspiracy and conspiracy theory narrative frameworks: Bridgegate, Pizzagate and storytelling on the web}}, year = {2020}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {15}, publisher = {Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0233879}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233879}, number = {6}, date = {2020-06-16}, langid = {english} } -
de Zeeuw, D., Hagen, S., Peeters, S. & Jokubauskaitė, E. (2020). Tracing normiefication. First Monday, 25(11). doi:10.5210/fm.v25i11.10643
Cross-platform analysis of QAnon from 2017 onward, theorised as 'normiefication': after incubating on 4chan/pol/, it migrated to YouTube and Reddit, with news media covering it only once it moved offline.
BibTeX
@article{dezeeuw2020tracing, author = {de Zeeuw, Daniël and Hagen, Sal and Peeters, Stijn and Jokubauskaitė, Emilija}, title = {{Tracing normiefication}}, year = {2020}, journal = {First Monday}, volume = {25}, doi = {10.5210/fm.v25i11.10643}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v25i11.10643}, number = {11}, langid = {english} } -
Zuckerman, E. (2019). QAnon and the Emergence of the Unreal. Journal of Design and Science. doi:10.21428/7808da6b.6b8a82b9
Essay reading QAnon as a symptom of political 'unreality' fuelled by distrust of institutions and media. It questions the conditions for a shared reality.
BibTeX
@article{zuckerman2019qanon, author = {Zuckerman, Ethan}, title = {{QAnon and the Emergence of the Unreal}}, year = {2019}, journal = {Journal of Design and Science}, doi = {10.21428/7808da6b.6b8a82b9}, url = {https://doi.org/10.21428/7808da6b.6b8a82b9}, number = {6}, langid = {english} } -
Tuters, M., Jokubauskaitė, E. & Bach, D. (2018). Post-Truth Protest: How 4chan Cooked Up the Pizzagate Bullshit. M/C Journal, 21(3). doi:10.5204/mcj.1422
Study of how the Pizzagate theory was collectively produced on 4chan's /pol/ board in 2016. It documents the narrative template and participatory 'research' practices later inherited by QAnon.
BibTeX
@article{tuters2018posttruth, author = {Tuters, Marc and Jokubauskaitė, Emilija and Bach, Daniel}, title = {{Post-Truth Protest: How 4chan Cooked Up the Pizzagate Bullshit}}, year = {2018}, journal = {M/C Journal}, volume = {21}, doi = {10.5204/mcj.1422}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.1422}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Killick, R., Fearnhead, P. & Eckley, I. A. (2012). Optimal Detection of Changepoints With a Linear Computational Cost. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 107(500), 1590-1598. doi:10.1080/01621459.2012.737745
Introduces PELT, a pruned version of optimal partitioning, and discusses penalty choice (including BIC). Standard reference for changepoint detection.
BibTeX
@article{killick2012pelt, author = {Killick, R. and Fearnhead, P. and Eckley, I. A.}, title = {{Optimal Detection of Changepoints With a Linear Computational Cost}}, year = {2012}, journal = {Journal of the American Statistical Association}, volume = {107}, pages = {1590--1598}, doi = {10.1080/01621459.2012.737745}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.2012.737745}, number = {500}, langid = {english} } -
Covington, M. A. & McFall, J. D. (2010). Cutting the Gordian Knot: The Moving-Average Type–Token Ratio (MATTR). Journal of Quantitative Linguistics, 17(2), 94-100. doi:10.1080/09296171003643098
Proposes MATTR, a type-token ratio averaged over a moving window, measuring lexical richness independently of text length.
BibTeX
@article{covington2010mattr, author = {Covington, Michael A. and McFall, Joe D.}, title = {{Cutting the Gordian Knot: The Moving-Average Type–Token Ratio (MATTR)}}, year = {2010}, journal = {Journal of Quantitative Linguistics}, volume = {17}, pages = {94--100}, doi = {10.1080/09296171003643098}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09296171003643098}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Phipson, B. & Smyth, G. K. (2010). Permutation P-values Should Never Be Zero: Calculating Exact P-values When Permutations Are Randomly Drawn. Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology, 9(1). doi:10.2202/1544-6115.1585
Shows how to compute a p-value correctly from randomly drawn permutations. Principle applied to the Q / Trump tweet tests.
BibTeX
@article{phipson2010permutation, author = {Phipson, Belinda and Smyth, Gordon K.}, title = {{Permutation P-values Should Never Be Zero: Calculating Exact P-values When Permutations Are Randomly Drawn}}, year = {2010}, journal = {Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology}, volume = {9}, doi = {10.2202/1544-6115.1585}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2202/1544-6115.1585}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Clauset, A., Shalizi, C. R. & Newman, M. E. J. (2009). Power-Law Distributions in Empirical Data. SIAM Review, 51(4), 661-703. doi:10.1137/070710111
Reference procedure to fit and test a power law (threshold, exponent, goodness of fit, comparison with alternative distributions). It is applied here to the sizes of Q's sessions.
BibTeX
@article{clauset2009powerlaw, author = {Clauset, Aaron and Shalizi, Cosma Rohilla and Newman, M. E. J.}, title = {{Power-Law Distributions in Empirical Data}}, year = {2009}, journal = {SIAM Review}, volume = {51}, pages = {661--703}, doi = {10.1137/070710111}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1137/070710111}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Crane, R. & Sornette, D. (2008). Robust dynamic classes revealed by measuring the response function of a social system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(41), 15649-15653. doi:10.1073/pnas.0803685105
Distinguishes, in attention to YouTube videos, exogenous shocks (sudden rise, fast relaxation) from endogenous ones (gradual rise, slow relaxation). The classification is applied here to attention peaks in the conspiracy scene.
BibTeX
@article{crane2008robust, author = {Crane, Riley and Sornette, Didier}, title = {{Robust dynamic classes revealed by measuring the response function of a social system}}, year = {2008}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, volume = {105}, pages = {15649--15653}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.0803685105}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0803685105}, number = {41}, langid = {english} } -
Goh, K. I. & Barabási, A. L. (2008). Burstiness and memory in complex systems. EPL (Europhysics Letters), 81(4), 48002. doi:10.1209/0295-5075/81/48002
Defines the burstiness coefficient B and the memory coefficient M characterising inter-event times. These are the measures used here for Q's posting rhythm.
BibTeX
@article{goh2008burstiness, author = {Goh, K.-I. and Barabási, A.-L.}, title = {{Burstiness and memory in complex systems}}, year = {2008}, journal = {EPL (Europhysics Letters)}, volume = {81}, pages = {48002}, doi = {10.1209/0295-5075/81/48002}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/81/48002}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Monroe, B. L., Colaresi, M. P. & Quinn, K. M. (2008). Fightin' Words: Lexical Feature Selection and Evaluation for Identifying the Content of Political Conflict. Political Analysis, 16(4), 372-403. doi:10.1093/pan/mpn018
Log-odds with an informative Dirichlet prior to identify the words distinguishing a group of texts. Used for each year's distinctive terms and for the vocabulary specific to Q threads on /pol/.
BibTeX
@article{monroe2008fightin, author = {Monroe, Burt L. and Colaresi, Michael P. and Quinn, Kevin M.}, title = {{Fightin' Words: Lexical Feature Selection and Evaluation for Identifying the Content of Political Conflict}}, year = {2008}, journal = {Political Analysis}, volume = {16}, pages = {372--403}, doi = {10.1093/pan/mpn018}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/pan/mpn018}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Veen, A. & Schoenberg, F. P. (2008). Estimation of Space–Time Branching Process Models in Seismology Using an EM–Type Algorithm. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 103(482), 614-624. doi:10.1198/016214508000000148
Estimation of branching processes with an EM algorithm based on each event's probable parentage. It is the estimation method for this study's Hawkes models.
BibTeX
@article{veen2008estimation, author = {Veen, Alejandro and Schoenberg, Frederic P.}, title = {{Estimation of Space–Time Branching Process Models in Seismology Using an EM–Type Algorithm}}, year = {2008}, journal = {Journal of the American Statistical Association}, volume = {103}, pages = {614--624}, doi = {10.1198/016214508000000148}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1198/016214508000000148}, number = {482}, langid = {english} } -
Jackson, B., Scargle, J. D., Barnes, D., Arabhi, S., Alt, A., Gioumousis, P., et al. (2005). An algorithm for optimal partitioning of data on an interval. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 12(2), 105-108. doi:10.1109/LSP.2001.838216
Dynamic-programming algorithm finding the optimal partition of a series into segments under a per-segment penalty. Basis of the activity-regime detection.
BibTeX
@article{jackson2005optimal, author = {Jackson, B. and Scargle, J. D. and Barnes, D. and Arabhi, S. and Alt, A. and Gioumousis, P. and Gwin, E. and San, P. and Tan, L. and Tsai, Tun Tao}, title = {{An algorithm for optimal partitioning of data on an interval}}, year = {2005}, journal = {IEEE Signal Processing Letters}, volume = {12}, pages = {105--108}, doi = {10.1109/LSP.2001.838216}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1109/LSP.2001.838216}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Benedetto, D., Caglioti, E. & Loreto, V. (2002). Language Trees and Zipping. Physical Review Letters, 88(4), 048702. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.048702
Estimates a distance between texts by compression: a text is encoded more efficiently after a similar one. The method is used here to compare Q, semester by semester, with Trump's tweets.
BibTeX
@article{benedetto2002language, author = {Benedetto, Dario and Caglioti, Emanuele and Loreto, Vittorio}, title = {{Language Trees and Zipping}}, year = {2002}, journal = {Physical Review Letters}, volume = {88}, pages = {048702}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.048702}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.048702}, number = {4}, langid = {english} } -
Burrows, J. (2002). 'Delta': a Measure of Stylistic Difference and a Guide to Likely Authorship. Literary and Linguistic Computing, 17(3), 267-287. doi:10.1093/llc/17.3.267
Introduces Burrows's Delta, a stylistic distance based on standardised frequencies of the most common words. Basis of this site's exploratory stylometry.
BibTeX
@article{burrows2002delta, author = {Burrows, J.}, title = {{'Delta': a Measure of Stylistic Difference and a Guide to Likely Authorship}}, year = {2002}, journal = {Literary and Linguistic Computing}, volume = {17}, pages = {267--287}, doi = {10.1093/llc/17.3.267}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/17.3.267}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Schreiber, T. (2000). Measuring Information Transfer. Physical Review Letters, 85(2), 461-464. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.461
Defines transfer entropy, a directed, nonlinear measure of the information one series carries about another's future. It is used here to ask whether Q or the scene informs the other.
BibTeX
@article{schreiber2000measuring, author = {Schreiber, Thomas}, title = {{Measuring Information Transfer}}, year = {2000}, journal = {Physical Review Letters}, volume = {85}, pages = {461--464}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.461}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.461}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Schreiber, T. & Schmitz, A. (2000). Surrogate time series. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 142(3-4), 346-382. doi:10.1016/S0167-2789(00)00043-9
Surrogate time series methods, including IAAFT, which preserves a series' distribution and spectrum. These surrogates serve here as the null model for transfer entropy and cross-correlation tests.
BibTeX
@article{schreiber2000surrogate, author = {Schreiber, Thomas and Schmitz, Andreas}, title = {{Surrogate time series}}, year = {2000}, journal = {Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena}, volume = {142}, pages = {346--382}, doi = {10.1016/S0167-2789(00)00043-9}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-2789(00)00043-9}, number = {3-4}, langid = {english} } -
Lee, D. D. & Seung, H. S. (1999). Learning the parts of objects by non-negative matrix factorization. Nature, 401(6755), 788-791. doi:10.1038/44565
Article that popularised non-negative matrix factorisation (NMF), used here to extract the corpus themes.
BibTeX
@article{lee1999nmf, author = {Lee, Daniel D. and Seung, H. Sebastian}, title = {{Learning the parts of objects by non-negative matrix factorization}}, year = {1999}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {401}, pages = {788--791}, doi = {10.1038/44565}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/44565}, number = {6755}, langid = {english} } -
Benjamini, Y. & Hochberg, Y. (1995). Controlling the False Discovery Rate: A Practical and Powerful Approach to Multiple Testing. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series B (Methodological), 57(1), 289-300. doi:10.1111/j.2517-6161.1995.tb02031.x
Multiple-testing correction through the false discovery rate. It is applied here to every family of tests (information links, themes).
BibTeX
@article{benjamini1995controlling, author = {Benjamini, Yoav and Hochberg, Yosef}, title = {{Controlling the False Discovery Rate: A Practical and Powerful Approach to Multiple Testing}}, year = {1995}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series B (Methodological)}, volume = {57}, pages = {289--300}, doi = {10.1111/j.2517-6161.1995.tb02031.x}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2517-6161.1995.tb02031.x}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Peng, C. K., Buldyrev, S. V., Havlin, S., Simons, M., Stanley, H. E. & Goldberger, A. L. (1994). Mosaic organization of DNA nucleotides. Physical Review E, 49(2), 1685-1689. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.49.1685
Introduces detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), which measures a series' long-range memory through its exponent H. It is applied here to Q's and Trump's activity.
BibTeX
@article{peng1994mosaic, author = {Peng, C.-K. and Buldyrev, S. V. and Havlin, S. and Simons, M. and Stanley, H. E. and Goldberger, A. L.}, title = {{Mosaic organization of DNA nucleotides}}, year = {1994}, journal = {Physical Review E}, volume = {49}, pages = {1685--1689}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.49.1685}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.1685}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Rabiner, L. R. (1989). A tutorial on hidden Markov models and selected applications in speech recognition. Proceedings of the IEEE, 77(2), 257-286. doi:10.1109/5.18626
Reference exposition of hidden Markov models (forward-backward, Baum-Welch and Viterbi algorithms). They are used here to split Q's activity into regimes.
BibTeX
@article{rabiner1989tutorial, author = {Rabiner, L. R.}, title = {{A tutorial on hidden Markov models and selected applications in speech recognition}}, year = {1989}, journal = {Proceedings of the IEEE}, volume = {77}, pages = {257--286}, doi = {10.1109/5.18626}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1109/5.18626}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Vuong, Q. H. (1989). Likelihood Ratio Tests for Model Selection and Non-Nested Hypotheses. Econometrica, 57(2), 307-333. doi:10.2307/1912557
Likelihood ratio test between non-nested models. It decides here between the power law, the exponential and the lognormal.
BibTeX
@article{vuong1989likelihood, author = {Vuong, Quang H.}, title = {{Likelihood Ratio Tests for Model Selection and Non-Nested Hypotheses}}, year = {1989}, journal = {Econometrica}, volume = {57}, pages = {307--333}, doi = {10.2307/1912557}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2307/1912557}, number = {2}, langid = {english} } -
Ogata, Y. (1988). Statistical Models for Earthquake Occurrences and Residual Analysis for Point Processes. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 83(401), 9-27. doi:10.1080/01621459.1988.10478560
ETAS model of earthquakes and their aftershocks (Omori kernel), with residual analysis by time rescaling. These are the seismic analogy and goodness-of-fit test used here.
BibTeX
@article{ogata1988statistical, author = {Ogata, Yosihiko}, title = {{Statistical Models for Earthquake Occurrences and Residual Analysis for Point Processes}}, year = {1988}, journal = {Journal of the American Statistical Association}, volume = {83}, pages = {9--27}, doi = {10.1080/01621459.1988.10478560}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1988.10478560}, number = {401}, langid = {english} } -
Efron, B. (1979). Bootstrap Methods: Another Look at the Jackknife. The Annals of Statistics, 7(1), 1-26. doi:10.1214/aos/1176344552
Founding article of the bootstrap, used for the confidence intervals of the model-evaluation F1 scores.
BibTeX
@article{efron1979bootstrap, author = {Efron, B.}, title = {{Bootstrap Methods: Another Look at the Jackknife}}, year = {1979}, journal = {The Annals of Statistics}, volume = {7}, pages = {1--26}, doi = {10.1214/aos/1176344552}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1214/aos/1176344552}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Hawkes, A. G. (1971). Spectra of some self-exciting and mutually exciting point processes. Biometrika, 58(1), 83-90. doi:10.1093/biomet/58.1.83
Introduces self-exciting point processes, in which each event temporarily raises the probability of further events. It is the model used here to measure the share of drops 'triggered' by earlier drops.
BibTeX
@article{hawkes1971spectra, author = {Hawkes, Alan G.}, title = {{Spectra of some self-exciting and mutually exciting point processes}}, year = {1971}, journal = {Biometrika}, volume = {58}, pages = {83--90}, doi = {10.1093/biomet/58.1.83}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/58.1.83}, number = {1}, langid = {english} } -
Bass, F. M. (1969). A New Product Growth for Model Consumer Durables. Management Science, 15(5), 215-227. doi:10.1287/mnsc.15.5.215
Diffusion model separating adoption through external influence (p) from adoption through imitation (q). It describes here how phrases coined by Q spread on Reddit.
BibTeX
@article{bass1969new, author = {Bass, Frank M.}, title = {{A New Product Growth for Model Consumer Durables}}, year = {1969}, journal = {Management Science}, volume = {15}, pages = {215--227}, doi = {10.1287/mnsc.15.5.215}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.15.5.215}, number = {5}, langid = {english} } -
Granger, C. W. J. (1969). Investigating Causal Relations by Econometric Models and Cross-spectral Methods. Econometrica, 37(3), 424-438. doi:10.2307/1912791
Defines Granger causality: one series precedes another if its past improves the forecast. Test used for Q and GDELT news.
BibTeX
@article{granger1969causal, author = {Granger, C. W. J.}, title = {{Investigating Causal Relations by Econometric Models and Cross-spectral Methods}}, year = {1969}, journal = {Econometrica}, volume = {37}, pages = {424--438}, doi = {10.2307/1912791}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2307/1912791}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Flesch, R. (1948). A new readability yardstick. Journal of Applied Psychology, 32(3), 221-233. doi:10.1037/h0057532
Founding article of the Flesch reading-ease score, based on sentence length and syllables per word.
BibTeX
@article{flesch1948readability, author = {Flesch, Rudolph}, title = {{A new readability yardstick}}, year = {1948}, journal = {Journal of Applied Psychology}, volume = {32}, pages = {221--233}, doi = {10.1037/h0057532}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/h0057532}, number = {3}, langid = {english} } -
Wilson, E. B. (1927). Probable Inference, the Law of Succession, and Statistical Inference. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 22(158), 209-212. doi:10.1080/01621459.1927.10502953
Origin of the Wilson confidence interval for a proportion, reliable even with small counts. Used for the prediction fulfilment rates.
BibTeX
@article{wilson1927probable, author = {Wilson, Edwin B.}, title = {{Probable Inference, the Law of Succession, and Statistical Inference}}, year = {1927}, journal = {Journal of the American Statistical Association}, volume = {22}, pages = {209--212}, doi = {10.1080/01621459.1927.10502953}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1927.10502953}, number = {158}, langid = {english} } -
Kim, D. W. & Buntain, C. (2025). Emotional Appeals in the 2020 #SaveTheChildren Campaign: A Multi-Platform Study of Online Engagement in QAnon Messaging. Companion Publication of the 17th ACM Web Science Conference 2025, 1-10. doi:10.1145/3720554.3733843
The study compares the association between emotional cues and engagement for matched #SaveTheChildren content on Parler, Gab, Twitter and Facebook. Effects vary by platform: surprise drives engagement on Twitter and Parler, joy only on Facebook, disgust on Gab, while fear does not mobilise engagement on fringe platforms.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{kim2025emotional, author = {Kim, Do Won and Buntain, Cody}, title = {{Emotional Appeals in the 2020 \#SaveTheChildren Campaign: A Multi-Platform Study of Online Engagement in QAnon Messaging}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Companion Publication of the 17th ACM Web Science Conference 2025}, pages = {1--10}, doi = {10.1145/3720554.3733843}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3720554.3733843}, langid = {english} } -
Papasavva, A. & Mariconti, E. (2024). Waiting for Q: An Exploration of QAnon Users' Online Migration to Poal in the Wake of Voat's Demise. ACM Web Science Conference (WebSci '24), 250-261. ACM. doi:10.1145/3614419.3644021
Study of QAnon users' migration from Voat to Poal after Voat shut down in late 2020.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{papasavva2024waiting, author = {Papasavva, Antonis and Mariconti, Enrico}, title = {{Waiting for Q: An Exploration of QAnon Users' Online Migration to Poal in the Wake of Voat's Demise}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {ACM Web Science Conference (WebSci '24)}, pages = {250--261}, publisher = {ACM}, doi = {10.1145/3614419.3644021}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3614419.3644021}, langid = {english} } -
Vishnuprasad, P. S., Nogara, G., Cardoso, F., Cresci, S., Giordano, S. & Luceri, L. (2024-05-28). Tracking Fringe and Coordinated Activity on Twitter Leading Up to the US Capitol Attack. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 18. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). doi:10.1609/icwsm.v18i1.31409
Study of fringe and conspiracy content on Twitter in the seven months before the Capitol attack and of suspicious coordinated activity by accounts sharing it. It finds manipulation techniques (targeted amplification, manufactured consensus) and shows these narratives converging on the stolen-election theme (#stopthesteal) alongside QAnon narratives.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{vishnuprasad2024tracking, author = {Vishnuprasad, Padinjaredath Suresh and Nogara, Gianluca and Cardoso, Felipe and Cresci, Stefano and Giordano, Silvia and Luceri, Luca}, title = {{Tracking Fringe and Coordinated Activity on Twitter Leading Up to the US Capitol Attack}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {18}, publisher = {Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v18i1.31409}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v18i1.31409}, date = {2024-05-28}, langid = {english} } -
Bär, D., Pröllochs, N. & Feuerriegel, S. (2023). Finding Qs: Profiling QAnon Supporters on Parler. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 17, 34-46. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v17i1.22124
Identification and profiling of QAnon supporters on Parler from their activity, compared with other users of the platform.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{bar2023finding, author = {Bär, Dominik and Pröllochs, Nicolas and Feuerriegel, Stefan}, title = {{Finding Qs: Profiling QAnon Supporters on Parler}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {17}, pages = {34--46}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v17i1.22124}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v17i1.22124}, langid = {english} } -
Hermanova, M. (2023). FROM FRINGE TO MAINSTREAM: QANON NARRATIVES IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN DIGITAL SPACES. AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research. University of Illinois Libraries. doi:10.5210/spir.v2022i0.13020
A conference paper on the circulation of QAnon-adjacent narratives in Czech and Slovak digital spaces, focusing on TikTok and Instagram influencers, through two COVID-19 and vaccine narratives. It proposes a five-step model of how content moves from English into other languages and from fringe to mainstream platforms.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{hermanova2023fringe, author = {Hermanova, Marie}, title = {{FROM FRINGE TO MAINSTREAM: QANON NARRATIVES IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN DIGITAL SPACES}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research}, publisher = {University of Illinois Libraries}, doi = {10.5210/spir.v2022i0.13020}, langid = {english} } -
Hoseini, M., Melo, P., Benevenuto, F., Feldmann, A. & Zannettou, S. (2023). On the Globalization of the QAnon Conspiracy Theory Through Telegram. Proceedings of the 15th ACM Web Science Conference 2023, 75-85. ACM. doi:10.1145/3578503.3583603
Analysis of 4.5 million messages from 161 QAnon Telegram groups and channels: toxicity across languages and over time, and topics, notably in Europe.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{hoseini2023globalization, author = {Hoseini, Mohamad and Melo, Philipe and Benevenuto, Fabricio and Feldmann, Anja and Zannettou, Savvas}, title = {{On the Globalization of the QAnon Conspiracy Theory Through Telegram}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 15th ACM Web Science Conference 2023}, pages = {75--85}, publisher = {ACM}, doi = {10.1145/3578503.3583603}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3578503.3583603}, langid = {english} } -
Wang, E. L., Luceri, L., Pierri, F. & Ferrara, E. (2023). Identifying and Characterizing Behavioral Classes of Radicalization within the QAnon Conspiracy on Twitter. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 17, 890-901. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v17i1.22197
Identification of behavioural classes of radicalisation among Twitter users engaged with QAnon.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{wang2023identifying, author = {Wang, Emily L. and Luceri, Luca and Pierri, Francesco and Ferrara, Emilio}, title = {{Identifying and Characterizing Behavioral Classes of Radicalization within the QAnon Conspiracy on Twitter}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {17}, pages = {890--901}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v17i1.22197}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v17i1.22197}, langid = {english} } -
Adams, C., Bozhidarova, M., Chen, J., Gao, A., Liu, Z., Priniski, J. H., et al. (2022-12-17). Knowledge Graphs of the QAnon Twitter Network. 2022 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Big Data). IEEE. doi:10.1109/bigdata55660.2022.10021128
Application of knowledge graphs to a new dataset of tweet histories from users who discussed QAnon in summer 2018, with a method that augments topic models with relational information. Users do not form a monolithic belief or social network but many smaller interlinked communities discussing specific political events such as the 6 January riot.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{adams2022knowledge, author = {Adams, Clay and Bozhidarova, Malvina and Chen, James and Gao, Andrew and Liu, Zhengtong and Priniski, J. Hunter and Lin, Junyuan and Sonthalia, Rishi and Bertozzi, Andrea L. and Brantingham, P. Jeffrey}, title = {{Knowledge Graphs of the QAnon Twitter Network}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {2022 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Big Data)}, publisher = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/bigdata55660.2022.10021128}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1109/bigdata55660.2022.10021128}, date = {2022-12-17}, langid = {english} } -
Hanley, H. W. A., Kumar, D. & Durumeric, Z. (2022). No Calm in the Storm: Investigating QAnon Website Relationships. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 16, 299-310. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19293
Mapping of the QAnon website ecosystem: hyperlinks, hosting infrastructure and relationships with other news and misinformation sites.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{hanley2022calm, author = {Hanley, Hans W. A. and Kumar, Deepak and Durumeric, Zakir}, title = {{No Calm in the Storm: Investigating QAnon Website Relationships}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {16}, pages = {299--310}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19293}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19293}, langid = {english} } -
Papasavva, A., Aliapoulios, M., Ballard, C., De Cristofaro, E., Stringhini, G., Zannettou, S., et al. (2022). The Gospel according to Q: Understanding the QAnon Conspiracy from the Perspective of Canonical Information. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 16, 735-746. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19330
Builds a corpus of 4,949 'canonical' drops from six aggregation sites, whose low agreement suggests some drops are apocryphal; topic and style analysis indicates the drops were not written by a single individual.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{papasavva2022gospel, author = {Papasavva, Antonis and Aliapoulios, Max and Ballard, Cameron and De Cristofaro, Emiliano and Stringhini, Gianluca and Zannettou, Savvas and Blackburn, Jeremy}, title = {{The Gospel according to Q: Understanding the QAnon Conspiracy from the Perspective of Canonical Information}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {16}, pages = {735--746}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19330}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19330}, langid = {english} } -
Sharma, K., Ferrara, E. & Liu, Y. (2022). Characterizing Online Engagement with Disinformation and Conspiracies in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 16, 908-919. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19345
Detection and characterisation of unreliable or conspiratorial narratives in tweets about the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and of the engagement they drew.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{sharma2022characterizing, author = {Sharma, Karishma and Ferrara, Emilio and Liu, Yan}, title = {{Characterizing Online Engagement with Disinformation and Conspiracies in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {16}, pages = {908--919}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19345}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19345}, langid = {english} } -
Sipka, A., Hannak, A. & Urman, A. (2022). Comparing the Language of QAnon-Related Content on Parler, Gab, and Twitter. 14th ACM Web Science Conference 2022, 411-421. ACM. doi:10.1145/3501247.3531550
Comparison of #QAnon posts on Parler, Twitter and Gab over one month; Parler shows the highest average toxicity, partly due to its distinctive hashtag use.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{sipka2022comparing, author = {Sipka, Andrea and Hannak, Aniko and Urman, Aleksandra}, title = {{Comparing the Language of QAnon-Related Content on Parler, Gab, and Twitter}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {14th ACM Web Science Conference 2022}, pages = {411--421}, publisher = {ACM}, doi = {10.1145/3501247.3531550}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3501247.3531550}, langid = {english} } -
Anwar, A., Ilyas, H., Yaqub, U. & Zaman, S. (2021-06-09). Analyzing QAnon on Twitter in Context of US Elections 2020: Analysis of User Messages and Profiles Using VADER and BERT Topic modeling. DG.O2021: The 22nd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research. ACM. doi:10.1145/3463677.3463718
Collection of over 12 million tweets (1 August-15 September 2020) mentioning Trump, Biden or Election2020, followed by VADER sentiment analysis and BERT topic modelling of the profiles of users mentioning 'QAnon'. The authors challenge the notion that these users are concentrated in Republican states and find an overwhelming majority are Trump supporters, with profiles containing 'MAGA', 'God', 'Patriot' or 'WWG1WGA'.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{anwar2021analyzing, author = {Anwar, Ahmed and Ilyas, Haider and Yaqub, Ussama and Zaman, Salma}, title = {{Analyzing QAnon on Twitter in Context of US Elections 2020: Analysis of User Messages and Profiles Using VADER and BERT Topic modeling}}, year = {2021}, booktitle = {DG.O2021: The 22nd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research}, publisher = {ACM}, doi = {10.1145/3463677.3463718}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3463677.3463718}, date = {2021-06-09}, langid = {english} } -
Papasavva, A., Blackburn, J., Stringhini, G., Zannettou, S. & De Cristofaro, E. (2021). "Is it a Qoincidence?": An Exploratory Study of QAnon on Voat. Proceedings of the Web Conference 2021, 460-471. ACM. doi:10.1145/3442381.3450036
Exploratory study of /v/GreatAwakening, the main QAnon community on Voat (a Reddit-like aggregator): activity, topics and users' language.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{papasavva2021qoincidence, author = {Papasavva, Antonis and Blackburn, Jeremy and Stringhini, Gianluca and Zannettou, Savvas and De Cristofaro, Emiliano}, title = {{"Is it a Qoincidence?": An Exploratory Study of QAnon on Voat}}, year = {2021}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Web Conference 2021}, pages = {460--471}, publisher = {ACM}, doi = {10.1145/3442381.3450036}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3442381.3450036}, langid = {english} } -
Conner, C. T., Roscigno, S. & Hannah, M. N. (2026). QAnon, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Meaning. Bloomsbury Publishing. doi:10.5040/9798881893408
The book interprets QAnon not as mere delusion but as a misguided response to the economic conditions of neoliberal capitalism, austerity and precarity. The authors argue that countering such theories requires a realignment of US social, political and economic priorities.
BibTeX
@book{conner2026qanon, author = {Conner, Christopher T. and Roscigno, Saverio and Hannah, Matthew N.}, title = {{QAnon, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Meaning}}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing}, doi = {10.5040/9798881893408}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5040/9798881893408}, langid = {english} } -
Fisher, M. Z. (2026). QAnon: Communication Complexity and New Religious Movements. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009705158
This Element traces the history, beliefs and practices of the QAnon movement, from anonymous image boards in autumn 2017 to its growth during the COVID-19 lockdowns. It uses this observable, real-time online record to shed light on the relationship between conspiracy theory and religion and on how new religious movements emerge today.
BibTeX
@book{fisher2026qanon, author = {Fisher, Matthew Zaro}, title = {{QAnon: Communication Complexity and New Religious Movements}}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009705158}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009705158}, langid = {english} } -
Mulcahy, R. & Simpson, J. (2026). A Relational Approach to the QAnon Movement: The Hidden Pandemic. Emerald Publishing Limited. doi:10.1108/978-1-83797-787-1
A monograph based on a digital ethnography of the r/QAnonCasualties subreddit, analysing through a feminist, relational lens the experiences of QAnon believers' families, partners and friends. It describes the social and relational consequences of belief and the push and pull factors observed by those close to believers.
BibTeX
@book{mulcahy2026relational, author = {Mulcahy, Rian and Simpson, Jessica}, title = {{A Relational Approach to the QAnon Movement: The Hidden Pandemic}}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Emerald Publishing Limited}, doi = {10.1108/978-1-83797-787-1}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83797-787-1}, langid = {english} } -
Argentino, M. A. (2025). QAnon: From Conspiracy Theory to New Religious Movement. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781032704920
Monograph analysing QAnon as a new religious movement: lived religious practice, 'pastel QAnon', gender-based violence, ideologically motivated crime and its trajectory after 6 January 2021.
BibTeX
@book{argentino2025qanon, author = {Argentino, Marc-André}, title = {{QAnon: From Conspiracy Theory to New Religious Movement}}, year = {2025}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781032704920}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032704920}, langid = {english} } -
Conner, C. T., Hannah, M. N. & MacMurray, N. J. (Eds.) (2024). Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times. Lexington Books. doi:10.5771/9781666933093
An edited volume drawing on Frankfurt School critical theory to examine far-right groups, conspiracy theories and stigmatized knowledge in the social media era. Two chapters deal with QAnon: one as a reemergence of the Satanic Panic (ch. 10), the other on its use of religion and on-screen storytelling (ch. 12).
BibTeX
@book{conner2024conspiracy, title = {{Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times}}, year = {2024}, publisher = {Lexington Books}, doi = {10.5771/9781666933093}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5771/9781666933093}, editor = {Conner, Christopher T. and Hannah, Matthew N. and MacMurray, Nicholas J.}, langid = {english} } -
Austin, M. W. & Bock, G. L. (Eds.) (2023). QAnon, Chaos, and the Cross: Christianity and Conspiracy Theories. Eerdmans. https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802882653/qanon-chaos-and-the-cross/
An essay collection by scholars of religion, ethics and public life on the appeal of conspiracy theories (QAnon, the Big Lie, anti-vaccine theories) within Christian communities. Topics include the Satanic Panic, echo chambers and QAnon's religious rhetoric, with a reasoning guide aimed at believers.
BibTeX
@book{austin2023qanon, title = {{QAnon, Chaos, and the Cross: Christianity and Conspiracy Theories}}, year = {2023}, publisher = {Eerdmans}, url = {https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802882653/qanon-chaos-and-the-cross/}, editor = {Austin, Michael W. and Bock, Gregory L.}, langid = {english} } -
Lundskow, G. & MacMillen, S. L. (2023). QAnon and Other Replacement Realities: How Religious Emotion Threatens Free Society but Can Also Contribute to a Progressive Future. Lexington Books. doi:10.5040/9798216420897
A sociological essay on the historical and theological origins of the American conspiracy fantasies fostered by QAnon and other right-wing beliefs, and on their social-psychological effects. The authors read them as a reaction to progressive social change and outline alternatives to conspiratorial discourse.
BibTeX
@book{lundskow2023qanon, author = {Lundskow, George and MacMillen, Sarah Louise}, title = {{QAnon and Other Replacement Realities: How Religious Emotion Threatens Free Society but Can Also Contribute to a Progressive Future}}, year = {2023}, publisher = {Lexington Books}, doi = {10.5040/9798216420897}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5040/9798216420897}, langid = {english} } -
Miller, M. K. (2023). The Social Science of QAnon: A New Social and Political Phenomenon. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061
Edited volume (ed. Monica K. Miller) bringing together psychologists, political scientists and sociologists on QAnon followers, cognitive drivers, political uses and media spread.
BibTeX
@book{miller2023social, author = {Miller, Monica K.}, title = {{The Social Science of QAnon: A New Social and Political Phenomenon}}, year = {2023}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061}, langid = {english} } -
Rothschild, M. (2023). Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories, from Waterloo to Weather Weapons. Melville House Publishing. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34292356W
A background work, not devoted to QAnon: the author of The Storm Is Upon Us traces two centuries of conspiracy theories targeting the Rothschild banking family. Its title borrows the media phrase coined after a claim by politician Marjorie Taylor Greene about California wildfires, which ties it to the conspiracy climate of the QAnon era.
BibTeX
@book{rothschild2023jewish, author = {Rothschild, Mike}, title = {{Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories, from Waterloo to Weather Weapons}}, year = {2023}, publisher = {Melville House Publishing}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34292356W}, langid = {english} } -
Sommer, W. (2023). Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America. HarperCollins. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL26341549W
Journalistic account of QAnon's rise by a reporter who covered it from the start, from 4chan to its influence on Republican officials.
BibTeX
@book{sommer2023trust, author = {Sommer, Will}, title = {{Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America}}, year = {2023}, publisher = {HarperCollins}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL26341549W}, langid = {english} } -
Badham, V. (2022). QAnon and On: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Conspiracy Cults. Hardie Grant Publishing. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL26762903W
A journalistic essay by an Australian columnist tracing the history of QAnon and internet conspiracy 'cults'. It is aimed at a general audience and covers the movement's spread beyond the United States.
BibTeX
@book{badham2022qanon, author = {Badham, Van}, title = {{QAnon and On: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Conspiracy Cults}}, year = {2022}, publisher = {Hardie Grant Publishing}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL26762903W}, langid = {english} } -
Donovan, J., Dreyfuss, E. & Friedberg, B. (2022). Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America. Bloomsbury Publishing. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34172011W
A book by disinformation researchers tracing a decade of online meme campaigns and their move from fringe forums into American politics. QAnon is among the online-born movements followed up to the Capitol attack.
BibTeX
@book{donovan2022meme, author = {Donovan, Joan and Dreyfuss, Emily and Friedberg, Brian}, title = {{Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America}}, year = {2022}, publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34172011W}, langid = {english} } -
Herradón, Ó. (2022). La gran conspiración de QAnon: Y otras teorías delirantes de la era Trump. Editorial Edaf. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34836800W
A Spanish-language popular book on QAnon and other conspiracy theories of the Trump era. It provides a Spanish-language entry point to the phenomenon.
BibTeX
@book{herradon2022gran, author = {Herradón, Óscar}, title = {{La gran conspiración de QAnon: Y otras teorías delirantes de la era Trump}}, year = {2022}, publisher = {Editorial Edaf}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34836800W}, langid = {spanish} } -
Wu Ming 1 (2022). Q comme qomplot : Comment les fantasmes de complot défendent le système. Lux Éditeur. https://luxediteur.com/catalogue/q-comme-qomplot/
French translation (Anne Echenoz and Serge Quadruppani) of 'La Q di Qomplotto' (2021). The essay analyses QAnon as a 'conspiracy fantasy', starting from its resemblance to the 1999 novel 'Q' published under the name Luther Blissett.
BibTeX
@book{wuming2022q, author = {Wu Ming 1}, title = {{Q comme qomplot : Comment les fantasmes de complot défendent le système}}, year = {2022}, publisher = {Lux Éditeur}, url = {https://luxediteur.com/catalogue/q-comme-qomplot/}, langid = {french} } -
Audureau, W. (2021). Dans la tête des complotistes. Allary Éditions. https://allary-editions.fr/products/william-audureau-dans-la-tete-des…
Reporting by a Le Monde 'Décodeurs' journalist among people who hold conspiracy beliefs, including French QAnon sympathisers.
BibTeX
@book{audureau2021dans, author = {Audureau, William}, title = {{Dans la tête des complotistes}}, year = {2021}, publisher = {Allary Éditions}, url = {https://allary-editions.fr/products/william-audureau-dans-la-tete-des-complotistes}, langid = {french} } -
Bloom, M. & Moskalenko, S. (2021). Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon. Stanford University Press. doi:10.1515/9781503630611
Book by two radicalisation scholars on the psychology of QAnon followers, the role of women ('pastel QAnon') and online radicalisation dynamics.
BibTeX
@book{bloom2021pastels, author = {Bloom, Mia and Moskalenko, Sophia}, title = {{Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon}}, year = {2021}, publisher = {Stanford University Press}, doi = {10.1515/9781503630611}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1515/9781503630611}, langid = {english} } -
Rothschild, M. (2021). The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything. Melville House. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL24209566W
Journalistic history of QAnon from 2017 to 2021 by a conspiracy-theory writer: origins, key figures, failed prophecies and spread. An updated edition appeared in 2022.
BibTeX
@book{rothschild2021storm, author = {Rothschild, Mike}, title = {{The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything}}, year = {2021}, publisher = {Melville House}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL24209566W}, langid = {english} } -
Butter, M. & Knight, P. (Eds.) (2020). Routledge Handbook of Conspiracy Theories. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429452734
A reference handbook (general background) from the European COMPACT network covering definitions, disciplinary approaches, effects and regional histories of conspiracy theories. It serves as a framework for placing QAnon within comparative conspiracy research.
BibTeX
@book{butter2020routledge, title = {{Routledge Handbook of Conspiracy Theories}}, year = {2020}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9780429452734}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429452734}, editor = {Butter, Michael and Knight, Peter}, langid = {english} } -
Merlan, A. (2019). Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power. Metropolitan Books. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20157130W
A background work, not devoted to QAnon: published in April 2019, this journalistic investigation describes the rise of American conspiracy theorists in the Trump era, chapter by chapter (UFOs, false flags, anti-vaccine activists, sovereign citizens). It sheds light on the conspiracy ecosystem in which QAnon grew, without making QAnon its main subject.
BibTeX
@book{merlan2019republic, author = {Merlan, Anna}, title = {{Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power}}, year = {2019}, publisher = {Metropolitan Books}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20157130W}, langid = {english} } -
Uscinski, J. E. (Ed.) (2018). Conspiracy Theories and the People Who Believe Them. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190844073.001.0001
A reference edited volume (general background) bringing together scholars from several disciplines on the causes and political effects of conspiracy beliefs. It provides the conceptual framework for many later surveys of QAnon supporters.
BibTeX
@book{uscinski2018conspiracy, title = {{Conspiracy Theories and the People Who Believe Them}}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, doi = {10.1093/oso/9780190844073.001.0001}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190844073.001.0001}, editor = {Uscinski, Joseph E.}, langid = {english} } -
Barkun, M. (2013). A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America. University of California Press. doi:10.1525/9780520956520
Background work (predating QAnon, 2nd edition) on apocalyptic visions and the 'superconspiracies' that fuse multiple conspiracy narratives in contemporary America. Its concepts of superconspiracy and 'stigmatized knowledge' are widely used to analyse QAnon.
BibTeX
@book{barkun2013culture, author = {Barkun, Michael}, title = {{A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America}}, year = {2013}, publisher = {University of California Press}, doi = {10.1525/9780520956520}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520956520}, langid = {english} } -
Festinger, L., Riecken, H. W. & Schachter, S. (1956). When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group That Predicted the Destruction of the World. University of Minnesota Press. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL4788695W
Background work (predating QAnon): a study of a small group that predicted the end of the world, foundational to cognitive dissonance theory. It is routinely cited to explain QAnon followers' persistence after Q's failed predictions.
BibTeX
@book{festinger1956when, author = {Festinger, Leon and Riecken, Henry W. and Schachter, Stanley}, title = {{When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group That Predicted the Destruction of the World}}, year = {1956}, publisher = {University of Minnesota Press}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL4788695W}, langid = {english} } -
Argentino, M. A. (2026). Explaining QAnon as Lived Religion. In Peels, R. & Dawson, L. L. (Eds.), Explaining Extreme Belief and Behavior, 287-308. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/9780197768914.003.0014
The chapter frames QAnon as a lived religion and traces its evolution with the sociopolitical context and the multiple users likely behind the Q account. It distinguishes three phases: proto-QAnon, canonical QAnon and apocryphal QAnon.
BibTeX
@incollection{argentino2026explaining, author = {Argentino, Marc-André}, title = {{Explaining QAnon as Lived Religion}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {Explaining Extreme Belief and Behavior}, pages = {287--308}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, doi = {10.1093/9780197768914.003.0014}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197768914.003.0014}, editor = {Peels, Rik and Dawson, Lorne L.}, langid = {english} } -
Ebner, J. (2026). 15. Case Study: QAnon Groups. The Language of Terrorists: Distinguishing Trolls from Violent Extremists, 115-130. Columbia University Press. doi:10.7312/ebne21440-019
A case-study chapter on QAnon groups in a book on the language of terrorists and how to distinguish trolls from violent extremists.
BibTeX
@incollection{ebner2026case, author = {Ebner, Julia}, title = {{15. Case Study: QAnon Groups}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {The Language of Terrorists: Distinguishing Trolls from Violent Extremists}, pages = {115--130}, publisher = {Columbia University Press}, doi = {10.7312/ebne21440-019}, url = {https://doi.org/10.7312/ebne21440-019}, langid = {english} } -
Haiven, M. (2026). Derivative Fascisms and Conspiracy Play. The Player and the Played, 63-92. The MIT Press. doi:10.7551/mitpress/16008.003.0005
A chapter of a monograph on 'gamified' fascism and financialisation, starting from the case of QAnon, its coded messages and its international spread as a kind of user-generated conspiracy franchise. The author argues that QAnon's core tenets have spread widely despite the movement's decline after 6 January 2021.
BibTeX
@incollection{haiven2026derivative, author = {Haiven, Max}, title = {{Derivative Fascisms and Conspiracy Play}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {The Player and the Played}, pages = {63--92}, publisher = {The MIT Press}, doi = {10.7551/mitpress/16008.003.0005}, url = {https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/16008.003.0005}, langid = {english} } -
Moskalenko, S. (2026). The Psychology of QAnon and Its Role in Radicalization to Political Violence. In McCauley, C. R., Moskalenko, S. & Scott Ligon, G. (Eds.), De Gruyter Handbook of the Psychology of Terrorism, 499-512. De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783111444529-043
A handbook chapter on the psychology of QAnon followers. It examines the movement's role in radicalization to political violence.
BibTeX
@incollection{moskalenko2026psychology, author = {Moskalenko, Sophia}, title = {{The Psychology of QAnon and Its Role in Radicalization to Political Violence}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {De Gruyter Handbook of the Psychology of Terrorism}, pages = {499--512}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, doi = {10.1515/9783111444529-043}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111444529-043}, editor = {McCauley, Clark R. and Moskalenko, Sophia and Scott Ligon, Gina}, langid = {english} } -
Thorpe, C. & Winston, D. (2026). Pandemic pressure. The Routledge International Handbook on Social Exclusion and Radicalisation, 59-67. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003488521-7
The chapter compares, in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic, the QAnon and Reichsbürger movements, which escalated towards violence up to attempted coup plans, with the Anastasia community, which withdrew socially. It concludes that the pandemic amplified and accelerated pre-existing ideological tendencies rather than directly causing violent extremism.
BibTeX
@incollection{thorpe2026pandemic, author = {Thorpe, Chelsea and Winston, David}, title = {{Pandemic pressure}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {The Routledge International Handbook on Social Exclusion and Radicalisation}, pages = {59--67}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003488521-7}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003488521-7}, langid = {english} } -
Turgeon, A. (2026). L'influence de QAnon au Québec, d'Alexis Cossette-Trudel à Éric Duhaime: Signes d'une américanisation de la culture politique québécoise?. In Gagnon, F., Kirkey, C. & Paquin, S. (Eds.), La relation Québec-États-Unis, 389-408. Presses de l'Université Laval. doi:10.2307/jj.38401867.21
A historian's chapter on the spread of QAnon in Quebec, from the influencer Alexis Cossette-Trudel to provincial politics. It asks what this spread reveals about a possible Americanisation of Quebec political culture.
BibTeX
@incollection{turgeon2026influence, author = {Turgeon, Alexandre}, title = {{L'influence de QAnon au Québec, d'Alexis Cossette-Trudel à Éric Duhaime: Signes d'une américanisation de la culture politique québécoise?}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {La relation Québec-États-Unis}, pages = {389--408}, publisher = {Presses de l'Université Laval}, doi = {10.2307/jj.38401867.21}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.38401867.21}, editor = {Gagnon, Frédérick and Kirkey, Christopher and Paquin, Stéphane}, langid = {french} } -
Vint, S. (2026). Political Cosplay: QAnon, White Squall, and Narrative Politics. In Banerjee, A., Vint, S., Higgins, D. M. & Carroll, J. S. (Eds.), Reactionary Worldbuilding, 193-224. The MIT Press. doi:10.7551/mitpress/17000.003.0013
A cultural studies chapter analysing QAnon as a form of 'political cosplay' and narrative worldbuilding. It appears in a volume on reactionary worldbuilding.
BibTeX
@incollection{vint2026political, author = {Vint, Sherryl}, title = {{Political Cosplay: QAnon, White Squall, and Narrative Politics}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {Reactionary Worldbuilding}, pages = {193--224}, publisher = {The MIT Press}, doi = {10.7551/mitpress/17000.003.0013}, url = {https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/17000.003.0013}, editor = {Banerjee, Anindita and Vint, Sherryl and Higgins, David M. and Carroll, Jordan S.}, langid = {english} } -
van Rijn, N. (2026). This is not a game, learn to play the game. Playing Politics in Digital Spaces, 139-151. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003629542-11
Chapter rereading Huizinga's Homo Ludens through QAnon, whose rules invite adherents to take an active part in world-making. The author argues that denying the play element, backed by a Manichean worldview, helped justify violence such as the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
BibTeX
@incollection{vanrijn2026game, author = {van Rijn, Nick}, title = {{This is not a game, learn to play the game}}, year = {2026}, booktitle = {Playing Politics in Digital Spaces}, pages = {139--151}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003629542-11}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003629542-11}, langid = {english} } -
Argentino, M. A., Celestini, C. & Amarasingam, A. (2025). The Silence of Q. Contemporary Far-Right Culture: The Art, Music, and Everyday Practices of Violent Extremism, 1-18. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003425816-1
The chapter examines QAnon's persistence despite the disappearance of 'Q' and Donald Trump's electoral defeat, drawing on examples such as the 'We The Media' collective, Romana Didulo and the 'Devolution' theory. It shows how social media influencers sustain beliefs and community, provide continuity when prophecies fail and shape new offshoots.
BibTeX
@incollection{argentino2025silence, author = {Argentino, Marc-André and Celestini, Carmen and Amarasingam, Amarnath}, title = {{The Silence of Q}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Contemporary Far-Right Culture: The Art, Music, and Everyday Practices of Violent Extremism}, pages = {1--18}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003425816-1}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003425816-1}, langid = {english} } -
Bodner, J. (2025). QAnon in Four Pieces: Toward a Folkloric Understanding of a Superconspiracy. In Fivecoate, J. A. & Kitta, A. (Eds.), Whispers in the Echo Chamber: Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society, 90-118. University of Wisconsin Press. doi:10.2307/jj.23440248.9
A folkloristic chapter that breaks QAnon into four components to explain how it works as a 'superconspiracy'. It appears in a volume on folklore and conspiracy theories.
BibTeX
@incollection{bodner2025qanon, author = {Bodner, John}, title = {{QAnon in Four Pieces: Toward a Folkloric Understanding of a Superconspiracy}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Whispers in the Echo Chamber: Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society}, pages = {90--118}, publisher = {University of Wisconsin Press}, doi = {10.2307/jj.23440248.9}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.23440248.9}, editor = {Fivecoate, Jesse A. and Kitta, Andrea}, langid = {english} } -
Burnett, G. & Williams, S. (2025). “Do Your Own Research”: Everyday Misinformation and Conspiracy in Online Information Worlds. Governing Misinformation in Everyday Knowledge Commons, 188-213. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009255165.009
Study of misinformation patterns in conspiracy 'information worlds' such as QAnon, based on public Facebook pages: expertise and authority, misreading, 'connecting the dots' and symbolic readings of gestures, logos or celebrity photos. The authors see it as a persistent, decentred everyday activity blending serious interpretation, gaming and sense-making.
BibTeX
@incollection{burnett2025do, author = {Burnett, Gary and Williams, Shannon}, title = {{“Do Your Own Research”: Everyday Misinformation and Conspiracy in Online Information Worlds}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Governing Misinformation in Everyday Knowledge Commons}, pages = {188--213}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009255165.009}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009255165.009}, langid = {english} } -
Ellis, B. (2025). What History Tells Us about QAnon. In Fivecoate, J. A. & Kitta, A. (Eds.), Whispers in the Echo Chamber: Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society, 23-49. University of Wisconsin Press. doi:10.2307/jj.23440248.6
A folklorist known for work on moral panics and the Satanic Panic places QAnon in historical perspective. The chapter compares the movement with earlier conspiracy narratives.
BibTeX
@incollection{ellis2025what, author = {Ellis, Bill}, title = {{What History Tells Us about QAnon}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Whispers in the Echo Chamber: Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society}, pages = {23--49}, publisher = {University of Wisconsin Press}, doi = {10.2307/jj.23440248.6}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.23440248.6}, editor = {Fivecoate, Jesse A. and Kitta, Andrea}, langid = {english} } -
Gruszko, K. & Gajewski, T. (2025). The QAnon theory and its international impact. Conspiracy Theories in International Relations, 99-120. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003565604-7
A chapter of a book on conspiracy theories in international relations, devoted to QAnon. It examines the movement's reach beyond the United States.
BibTeX
@incollection{gruszko2025qanon, author = {Gruszko, Katarzyna and Gajewski, Tomasz}, title = {{The QAnon theory and its international impact}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Conspiracy Theories in International Relations}, pages = {99--120}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003565604-7}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003565604-7}, langid = {english} } -
Heering, D. (2025). 4. Die Ästhetik von QAnon. Im Sog der Fiktionen: Zur Philosophie von Verschwörungstheorien, 180-192. transcript Verlag. doi:10.14361/9783839475140-036
A chapter of a philosophy monograph arguing that conspiracy theories are narratives received as fictions rather than theories that are genuinely believed. This chapter is devoted to the aesthetics of QAnon.
BibTeX
@incollection{heering2025asthetik, author = {Heering, David}, title = {{4. Die Ästhetik von QAnon}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Im Sog der Fiktionen: Zur Philosophie von Verschwörungstheorien}, pages = {180--192}, publisher = {transcript Verlag}, doi = {10.14361/9783839475140-036}, url = {https://doi.org/10.14361/9783839475140-036}, langid = {german} } -
Kreiss, D. & Sugarman, A. (2025). The Democratic Decay Within: The US Republican Party and QAnon as a Digital Surrogate. In Livingston, S. & Miller, M. (Eds.), Connective Action and the Rise of the Far-Right, 90-121. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197794937.003.0004
Analysis of Republican candidates' use of QAnon symbols and narratives in their 2020 campaigns: 45 discrete symbols organised around six themes (Christianity, anti-elitism, opposition to marginalised groups, nationalism, revolution, corrosive scepticism). The authors describe QAnon as a digital surrogate organisation for the Republican Party.
BibTeX
@incollection{kreiss2025democratic, author = {Kreiss, Daniel and Sugarman, Aaron}, title = {{The Democratic Decay Within: The US Republican Party and QAnon as a Digital Surrogate}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Connective Action and the Rise of the Far-Right}, pages = {90--121}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, doi = {10.1093/oso/9780197794937.003.0004}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197794937.003.0004}, editor = {Livingston, Steven and Miller, Michael}, langid = {english} } -
Lukito, J., Yang, Y. & Kim, S. J. (2025). How QAnon Developed from a Fringe Group to a Digital Surrogate for the GOP. In Livingston, S. & Miller, M. (Eds.), Connective Action and the Rise of the Far-Right, 62-89. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197794937.003.0003
Drawing on a large multi-platform collection of QAnon content, the chapter traces the movement's shift from fringe community to Republican Party constituency in four stages (start, growth, political opportunity, transformation). It describes a mutually beneficial relationship: legitimacy for QAnon, a voting bloc for the party.
BibTeX
@incollection{lukito2025how, author = {Lukito, Josephine and Yang, Yunkang and Kim, Sang Jung}, title = {{How QAnon Developed from a Fringe Group to a Digital Surrogate for the GOP}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Connective Action and the Rise of the Far-Right}, pages = {62--89}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, doi = {10.1093/oso/9780197794937.003.0003}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197794937.003.0003}, editor = {Livingston, Steven and Miller, Michael}, langid = {english} } -
Pates, H. (2025). “For Humanity—Fight—Learn”: History in the QAnon Conspiracy. In Tebaldi, C., Plum, A. & Purschke, C. (Eds.), Conspiracy as Genre: Narrative, Power, and Circulation, 53-72. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. doi:10.5040/9781350467903.ch-004
A chapter of an edited volume approaching conspiracy as a narrative genre. It deals with the place of history in the QAnon conspiracy narrative.
BibTeX
@incollection{pates2025humanity, author = {Pates, Harrison}, title = {{“For Humanity—Fight—Learn”: History in the QAnon Conspiracy}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Conspiracy as Genre: Narrative, Power, and Circulation}, pages = {53--72}, publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing Plc}, doi = {10.5040/9781350467903.ch-004}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350467903.ch-004}, editor = {Tebaldi, Catherine and Plum, Alistair and Purschke, Christoph}, langid = {english} } -
Ruffini, J. A. & Ruffini, P. A. (2025). QAnon. U.S. Domestic and Transnational Terrorism, 257-261. CRC Press. doi:10.4324/9781003627821-24
A short entry in a reference work on US domestic and transnational terrorism, presenting the QAnon movement, its origins on 4chan and its spread to major social media platforms. It reviews its theories about COVID-19, Hillary Clinton, 2020 voting machines, John F. Kennedy Jr.'s death and the 'deep state'.
BibTeX
@incollection{ruffini2025qanon, author = {Ruffini, Joseph A. and Ruffini, Patricia A.}, title = {{QAnon}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {U.S. Domestic and Transnational Terrorism}, pages = {257--261}, publisher = {CRC Press}, doi = {10.4324/9781003627821-24}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003627821-24}, langid = {english} } -
Sayers, A., Passmore, E. J. & Egerland, H. (2025). "Do You Believe in Coincidences?": Digital Breadcrumbing in QAnon Forum Posts. In Vásquez, C. & Chovanec, J. (Eds.), Experiencing Digital Discourses, 287-317. Springer Nature Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-77460-7_10
A linguistic analysis of QAnon forum posts focused on 'breadcrumbing', clues that readers are invited to connect. The chapter is part of a volume on digital discourse analysis.
BibTeX
@incollection{sayers2025do, author = {Sayers, Addie and Passmore, Ellie J. and Egerland, Hanson}, title = {{"Do You Believe in Coincidences?": Digital Breadcrumbing in QAnon Forum Posts}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Experiencing Digital Discourses}, pages = {287--317}, publisher = {Springer Nature Switzerland}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-77460-7_10}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-77460-7_10}, editor = {Vásquez, Camilla and Chovanec, Jan}, langid = {english} } -
Young, H. (2025). QAnon: Dark Fantasy and the Authoritarian Personality. Critical Theory and the Authoritarian Personality, 34-64. Edinburgh University Press. doi:10.3366/edinburgh/9781399519458.003.0002
The chapter presents the QAnon movement and the explanations offered by political science and social psychology, then proposes a Lacanian psychoanalytic reading. It argues that QAnon expresses, in the disguised form of a conspiracy theory about sexual abuse, prejudice and authoritarian attitudes, and a political fantasy of totalitarian closure and retributive violence.
BibTeX
@incollection{young2025qanon, author = {Young, Helen}, title = {{QAnon: Dark Fantasy and the Authoritarian Personality}}, year = {2025}, booktitle = {Critical Theory and the Authoritarian Personality}, pages = {34--64}, publisher = {Edinburgh University Press}, doi = {10.3366/edinburgh/9781399519458.003.0002}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781399519458.003.0002}, langid = {english} } -
Baker, S. A., McLaughlin, E. & Rojek, C. (2024). The Future of Cults. Cults, 141-149. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003335115-9
Chapter drawing on the QAnon case and Festinger et al.'s When Prophecy Fails to examine how the notion of a cult is shifting in the twenty-first century. The authors introduce a distinction between 'thick' and 'thin' cults and stress the social and psychological functions these groups serve for members.
BibTeX
@incollection{baker2024future, author = {Baker, Stephanie Alice and McLaughlin, Eugene and Rojek, Chris}, title = {{The Future of Cults}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Cults}, pages = {141--149}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003335115-9}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003335115-9}, langid = {english} } -
Barkun, M. (2024). QAnon, Conspiracies, and Religion. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.1239
Encyclopedia article describing how QAnon, a political conspiracy theory that emerged in late 2017, turned into a religious movement with no formal organisation or designated leadership. It sets out the narrative of a 'deep state' cabal and its accompanying eschatology, and the end of Q's posts in late 2020.
BibTeX
@incollection{barkun2024qanon, author = {Barkun, Michael}, title = {{QAnon, Conspiracies, and Religion}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, doi = {10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.1239}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.1239}, langid = {english} } -
Ben-Asher, N. (2024). Sexual Innocence in Crisis-Justice Movements: A Political Theology. In Fischel, J. J. & Cossman, B. (Eds.), Enticements: Queer Legal Studies, 320-342. New York University Press. doi:10.18574/nyu/9781479807635.003.0016
Chapter contrasting the public images of Greta Thunberg and QAnon as they appeared in the press in September 2020. The author argues that these left- and right-wing 'crisis-justice' movements rely on Christian theology and on myths about sexuality and innocence.
BibTeX
@incollection{benasher2024sexual, author = {Ben-Asher, Noa}, title = {{Sexual Innocence in Crisis-Justice Movements: A Political Theology}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Enticements: Queer Legal Studies}, pages = {320--342}, publisher = {New York University Press}, doi = {10.18574/nyu/9781479807635.003.0016}, url = {https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9781479807635.003.0016}, editor = {Fischel, Joseph J. and Cossman, Brenda}, langid = {english} } -
Coduto, K. D. (2024). Interpersonal Relationships and Online Social Support in the QAnon Age. American Conspiracism, 101-116. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003459255-8
The chapter examines how people have experienced the breakdown of relationships after a loved one joined QAnon, and the resulting changes in communication patterns. It also looks at how both believers and their loved ones turn to the internet for social support.
BibTeX
@incollection{coduto2024interpersonal, author = {Coduto, Kathryn D.}, title = {{Interpersonal Relationships and Online Social Support in the QAnon Age}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {American Conspiracism}, pages = {101--116}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003459255-8}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003459255-8}, langid = {english} } -
Finlayson, A. & Topinka, R. (2024). ‘We Have to Save the Children’. Ethos, Technology, and AI in Contemporary Society, 205-228. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781032688503-11
A rhetorical-theory chapter on the ethos of 'Reactionary Digital Politics', understood as an effect of the participatory speaker–audience relationship shaped by platform affordances. Two case studies from QAnon show how identification with an ethos of heroic participation is embedded in the very procedures for creating and circulating content.
BibTeX
@incollection{finlayson2024save, author = {Finlayson, Alan and Topinka, Robert}, title = {{‘We Have to Save the Children’}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Ethos, Technology, and AI in Contemporary Society}, pages = {205--228}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781032688503-11}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032688503-11}, langid = {english} } -
Giroux, H. A. & DiMaggio, A. R. (2024). Fascism, White Christian Nationalism, and QAnon Rising. Fascism on Trial: Education and the Possibility of Democracy, 117-126. Bloomsbury Publishing. doi:10.5040/9781350421721.ch-8
Chapter of a book on fascism and democratic education, devoted to the links between fascism, white Christian nationalism and the rise of QAnon. No abstract is available in the metadata.
BibTeX
@incollection{giroux2024fascism, author = {Giroux, Henry A. and DiMaggio, Anthony R.}, title = {{Fascism, White Christian Nationalism, and QAnon Rising}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Fascism on Trial: Education and the Possibility of Democracy}, pages = {117--126}, publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing}, doi = {10.5040/9781350421721.ch-8}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350421721.ch-8}, langid = {english} } -
Heyes, M. E. (2024). Praying on Fear. Demons in the USA, 183-221. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003492542-7
Chapter reading QAnon as a continuation of the Satanic Panic and of an anti-Spiritualist current, based on the language of sanctity and spiritual warfare in Anons' posts. It traces the historical lines these posts draw between the two movements and their sources (Malachi Martin's writings and interviews, among others).
BibTeX
@incollection{heyes2024praying, author = {Heyes, Michael E.}, title = {{Praying on Fear}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Demons in the USA}, pages = {183--221}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003492542-7}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003492542-7}, langid = {english} } -
Hughes, B. (2024). First Thoughts on a Second Qoming. Selling the Sacred, 122-136. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003342229-10
A chapter using the Comaroffs' 'occult economy' model to explore the QAnon subculture's relationship with magic and witchcraft on the one hand, and markets and finance on the other. It describes how QAnon interprets wealth as the outcome of occult forces, with either a positive valence or an accusatory, even violent one.
BibTeX
@incollection{hughes2024first, author = {Hughes, Brian}, title = {{First Thoughts on a Second Qoming}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Selling the Sacred}, pages = {122--136}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003342229-10}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003342229-10}, langid = {english} } -
Lal, R. (2024). QAnon Extremist Propaganda: Using the Internet to Spread Hate. In Chasdi, R. J. & Sharan, Y. (Eds.), Issues of Terrorism in the Post-Coronavirus Era, 187-199. Springer Nature Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-68542-2_11
Chapter in an edited volume on terrorism after the COVID-19 pandemic, devoted to QAnon's extremist propaganda and its use of the internet to spread hate. The publisher's metadata include no abstract.
BibTeX
@incollection{lal2024qanon, author = {Lal, Rollie}, title = {{QAnon Extremist Propaganda: Using the Internet to Spread Hate}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Issues of Terrorism in the Post-Coronavirus Era}, pages = {187--199}, publisher = {Springer Nature Switzerland}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-68542-2_11}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68542-2_11}, editor = {Chasdi, Richard J. and Sharan, Yair}, langid = {english} } -
Martin, J. D. (2024). Of Borders and Disorders. American Conspiracism: An Interdisciplinary Exploration, 234-254. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003459255-16
Chapter on the role of the US-Mexico border in the Great Replacement theory and in the border variant of QAnon. The author shows that both combine space, race and gender to fuel an anti-immigrant moral panic, with QAnon casting ordinary Americans as the nation's saviours.
BibTeX
@incollection{martin2024borders, author = {Martin, Joshua D.}, title = {{Of Borders and Disorders}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {American Conspiracism: An Interdisciplinary Exploration}, pages = {234--254}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003459255-16}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003459255-16}, langid = {english} } -
Pearce, C. (2024). “This Is Not a Game”: Alternate Reality, Alternative Facts, and the January 6 Insurrection. Playframes: How Do We Know We Are Playing?, 217-252. The MIT Press. doi:10.7551/mitpress/15344.003.0020
Chapter of a book on play frames, devoted to alternate reality games, 'alternative facts' and the 6 January 2021 insurrection, opening with the line 'QAnon was a game that played people'. No abstract is available in the metadata.
BibTeX
@incollection{pearce2024game, author = {Pearce, Celia}, title = {{“This Is Not a Game”: Alternate Reality, Alternative Facts, and the January 6 Insurrection}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Playframes: How Do We Know We Are Playing?}, pages = {217--252}, publisher = {The MIT Press}, doi = {10.7551/mitpress/15344.003.0020}, url = {https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15344.003.0020}, langid = {english} } -
Raymond Harris, K. (2024). The Epistemology of QAnon. American Conspiracism: An Interdisciplinary Exploration, 19-33. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003459255-3
A philosophy chapter on the epistemology of QAnon, that is, how followers form and justify their beliefs. It appears in an interdisciplinary volume on American conspiracism.
BibTeX
@incollection{raymondharris2024epistemology, author = {Raymond Harris, Keith}, title = {{The Epistemology of QAnon}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {American Conspiracism: An Interdisciplinary Exploration}, pages = {19--33}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003459255-3}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003459255-3}, langid = {english} } -
Russell, F. (2024). QAnon. Digital Media as Ambient Therapy: The Ecological Self between Resonance and Alienation, 78-101. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003215202-5
Chapter analysing QAnon's conspiracy culture as an attempt by millions to overcome alienation through ambient media, at the cost of violence and political turmoil. It uses the case to problematise the ideal of unalienated relationality theorised by Hartmut Rosa.
BibTeX
@incollection{russell2024qanon, author = {Russell, Francis}, title = {{QAnon}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Digital Media as Ambient Therapy: The Ecological Self between Resonance and Alienation}, pages = {78--101}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781003215202-5}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003215202-5}, langid = {english} } -
Tarzia, F. (2024). Satan's ways are endless. Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Italy: Cultural Production and Political Uses, 120-140. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781032704494-7
Chapter on the convergence between QAnon and 'traditionalist' Catholic currents hostile to Pope Francis, analysing official documents and a sample of traditionalist Facebook groups. Interpreting metaphors and imagery, it highlights a convergence between US evangelicals and Catholics and the latter's ideological reuse of QAnon.
BibTeX
@incollection{tarzia2024satan, author = {Tarzia, Fabio}, title = {{Satan's ways are endless}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Italy: Cultural Production and Political Uses}, pages = {120--140}, publisher = {Routledge}, doi = {10.4324/9781032704494-7}, url = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032704494-7}, langid = {english} } -
Toler, A. (2024). Saviour or Menace? Crowdsourcing Open Source Research and the Rise of QAnon. Open Source Investigations in the Age of Google, 152-170. World Scientific (Europe). doi:10.1142/9781800614079_0008
An open-source investigator examines the kinship between online crowdsourced research and the collective 'research' of QAnon followers. The chapter questions the risks of amateur investigation.
BibTeX
@incollection{toler2024saviour, author = {Toler, Aric}, title = {{Saviour or Menace? Crowdsourcing Open Source Research and the Rise of QAnon}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Open Source Investigations in the Age of Google}, pages = {152--170}, publisher = {World Scientific (Europe)}, doi = {10.1142/9781800614079_0008}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1142/9781800614079_0008}, langid = {english} } -
Wendling, M. (2024). QAnon lives on and on. Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy, 48-58. Pluto Press. doi:10.2307/jj.13286159.6
A chapter of Mike Wendling's book on how the far right declared war on democracy. It is devoted to the persistence of the QAnon movement.
BibTeX
@incollection{wendling2024qanon, author = {Wendling, Mike}, title = {{QAnon lives on and on}}, year = {2024}, booktitle = {Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy}, pages = {48--58}, publisher = {Pluto Press}, doi = {10.2307/jj.13286159.6}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.13286159.6}, langid = {english} } -
Ahmed, W. & Smith, M. (2023). Social Network Analysis Techniques Using NodeXL for Analyzing Disinformation Related to QAnon. In Miller, M. K. (Ed.), The Social Science of QAnon, 216-233. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.018
A methods chapter presenting social network analysis techniques using the NodeXL software. They are applied to QAnon-related disinformation.
BibTeX
@incollection{ahmed2023social, author = {Ahmed, Wasim and Smith, Marc}, title = {{Social Network Analysis Techniques Using NodeXL for Analyzing Disinformation Related to QAnon}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {216--233}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.018}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.018}, editor = {Miller, Monica K.}, langid = {english} } -
Amarasingam, A., Argentino, M. A., Johnston, D. & Mosurinjohn, S. (2023). Categorizing QAnon. The Social Science of QAnon, 271-290. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.022
Examines QAnon in light of the literature on new religious movements, assessing whether the labels 'cult' or 'new religious movement' make sense.
BibTeX
@incollection{amarasingam2023categorizing, author = {Amarasingam, Amarnath and Argentino, Marc-André and Johnston, Dakota and Mosurinjohn, Sharday}, title = {{Categorizing QAnon}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {271--290}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.022}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.022}, langid = {english} } -
Bromley, D. G. & Richardson, J. T. (2023). The QAnon Conspiracy Narrative: Understanding the Social Construction of Danger. In Miller, M. K. (Ed.), The Social Science of QAnon, 159-175. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.014
Two sociologists of new religious movements analyse the QAnon conspiracy narrative. The chapter approaches it through the social construction of danger.
BibTeX
@incollection{bromley2023qanon, author = {Bromley, David G. and Richardson, James T.}, title = {{The QAnon Conspiracy Narrative: Understanding the Social Construction of Danger}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {159--175}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.014}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.014}, editor = {Miller, Monica K.}, langid = {english} } -
Green, R., Trella, C., Biddlestone, M., Douglas, K. M. & Sutton, R. M. (2023). Psychological Motives of QAnon Followers. The Social Science of QAnon, 33-48. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.006
Applies to QAnon the framework of existential, epistemic and social motives for conspiracy belief (Douglas et al., 2017).
BibTeX
@incollection{green2023psychological, author = {Green, Ricky and Trella, Carolina and Biddlestone, Mikey and Douglas, Karen M. and Sutton, Robbie M.}, title = {{Psychological Motives of QAnon Followers}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {33--48}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.006}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.006}, langid = {english} } -
Hellinger, D. C. (2023). New Conspiracism, Fake News, and QAnon. Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump, 67-98. Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-44829-4_3
A chapter of a political scientist's monograph on conspiracies and conspiracy theories in the Trump era. It links QAnon to the 'new conspiracism' and fake news.
BibTeX
@incollection{hellinger2023new, author = {Hellinger, Daniel C.}, title = {{New Conspiracism, Fake News, and QAnon}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump}, pages = {67--98}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-44829-4_3}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44829-4_3}, langid = {english} } -
Kaplan, T. (2023). QAnon and Social Media. In Miller, M. K. (Ed.), The Social Science of QAnon, 195-215. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.017
A chapter on the role of social media in the spread of QAnon. It is part of the first edited academic volume devoted entirely to the movement.
BibTeX
@incollection{kaplan2023qanon, author = {Kaplan, Tatyana}, title = {{QAnon and Social Media}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {195--215}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.017}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.017}, editor = {Miller, Monica K.}, langid = {english} } -
Langer, A. (2023). Zusammenhänge zwischen antisemitischer Hundepfeifenpolitik und rechtsextremer Gewalt: Das Beispiel der George-Soros-Verschwörungstheorien und des QAnon-Kollektivs. Rechter Terrorismus: international – digital – analog, 231-252. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-40396-6_9
A chapter in a German volume on right-wing terrorism examining the link between antisemitic 'dog-whistle' politics and far-right violence. Its case studies are the George Soros conspiracy theories and the QAnon collective.
BibTeX
@incollection{langer2023zusammenhange, author = {Langer, Armin}, title = {{Zusammenhänge zwischen antisemitischer Hundepfeifenpolitik und rechtsextremer Gewalt: Das Beispiel der George-Soros-Verschwörungstheorien und des QAnon-Kollektivs}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {Rechter Terrorismus: international – digital – analog}, pages = {231--252}, publisher = {Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-658-40396-6_9}, langid = {german} } -
Richardson, J. T. (2023). Recruitment to QAnon: Ordinary Persuasion and Human Agency or "Brainwashing"?. In Miller, M. K. (Ed.), The Social Science of QAnon, 104-120. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.010
A sociologist of new religious movements examines how people join QAnon. The chapter contrasts the 'brainwashing' explanation with ordinary persuasion and followers' own agency.
BibTeX
@incollection{richardson2023recruitment, author = {Richardson, James T.}, title = {{Recruitment to QAnon: Ordinary Persuasion and Human Agency or "Brainwashing"?}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {104--120}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.010}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.010}, editor = {Miller, Monica K.}, langid = {english} } -
Tangherlini, T. R., Shahsavari, S., Holur, P. & Roychowdhury, V. (2023). QAnon, Folklore, and Conspiratorial Consensus: A Case Study in the Computational Analysis of Conspiracy Theory Narratives. In Miller, M. K. (Ed.), The Social Science of QAnon, 234-251. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.019
A chapter applying computational narrative analysis to the QAnon story, treated as a folkloric object. It examines how a conspiratorial consensus emerges from many contributions.
BibTeX
@incollection{tangherlini2023qanon, author = {Tangherlini, Timothy R. and Shahsavari, Shadi and Holur, Pavan and Roychowdhury, Vwani}, title = {{QAnon, Folklore, and Conspiratorial Consensus: A Case Study in the Computational Analysis of Conspiracy Theory Narratives}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {234--251}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.019}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.019}, editor = {Miller, Monica K.}, langid = {english} } -
Uscinski, J. & Enders, A. M. (2023). QAnon and the Politics of 2020. The Social Science of QAnon, 140-158. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.013
Using 2018-2021 polling, shows that only 5-8% of Americans support QAnon, a level stable over time, at odds with depictions of a rapidly growing movement.
BibTeX
@incollection{uscinski2023qanon, author = {Uscinski, Joseph and Enders, Adam M.}, title = {{QAnon and the Politics of 2020}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {140--158}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.013}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.013}, langid = {english} } -
Wright, J. M. & Wright, S. A. (2023). The Future of QAnon: Emergent Patterns of Social Movement Adaptation and Change. In Miller, M. K. (Ed.), The Social Science of QAnon, 291-307. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009052061.023
A chapter analysing QAnon as a social movement and the adaptation patterns it displays after its setbacks. It considers the movement's possible trajectories after 2020.
BibTeX
@incollection{wright2023future, author = {Wright, Jared M. and Wright, Stuart A.}, title = {{The Future of QAnon: Emergent Patterns of Social Movement Adaptation and Change}}, year = {2023}, booktitle = {The Social Science of QAnon}, pages = {291--307}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, doi = {10.1017/9781009052061.023}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052061.023}, editor = {Miller, Monica K.}, langid = {english} } -
Dastgeer, S. & Thapaliya, R. (2022). QAnon: The Networks of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories on Social Media. In Lipschultz, J. H., Freberg, K. & Luttrell, R. (Eds.), The Emerald Handbook of Computer-Mediated Communication and Social Media, 251-268. Emerald Publishing Limited. doi:10.1108/978-1-80071-597-420221015
A handbook chapter on the QAnon-related networks of misinformation and conspiracy theories on social media. It is part of a reference work on computer-mediated communication.
BibTeX
@incollection{dastgeer2022qanon, author = {Dastgeer, Shugofa and Thapaliya, Rashmi}, title = {{QAnon: The Networks of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories on Social Media}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {The Emerald Handbook of Computer-Mediated Communication and Social Media}, pages = {251--268}, publisher = {Emerald Publishing Limited}, doi = {10.1108/978-1-80071-597-420221015}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80071-597-420221015}, editor = {Lipschultz, Jeremy Harris and Freberg, Karen and Luttrell, Regina}, langid = {english} } -
Gambone, M. D. (2022). QAnon: Enemies inside the Gates. Modern Conspiracies in America: Separating Fact from Fiction, 139-152. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. doi:10.5771/9781538164648-139
A chapter (ch. 10) of a historian's monograph on contemporary American conspiracy theories, devoted to QAnon. The book sets out to separate established fact from conspiracy narratives.
BibTeX
@incollection{gambone2022qanon, author = {Gambone, Michael D.}, title = {{QAnon: Enemies inside the Gates}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {Modern Conspiracies in America: Separating Fact from Fiction}, pages = {139--152}, publisher = {Rowman \& Littlefield Publishers}, doi = {10.5771/9781538164648-139}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5771/9781538164648-139}, langid = {english} } -
Gómez, M. P. & Lubisco, N. M. L. (2022). DESINFORMAÇÃO NA INTERNET: FAKE NEWS DO QANON COMO REGIME DE INFORMAÇÃO. Ciências sociais aplicadas: Estado, organizações e desenvolvimento regional 3, 103-113. Atena Editora. doi:10.22533/at.ed.6592212129
A Brazilian information-science chapter analysing QAnon fake news through the concept of an 'information regime'. It stems from master's research on QAnon conducted in Brazil.
BibTeX
@incollection{gomez2022desinformacao, author = {Gómez, Michelle Pacheco and Lubisco, Nídia Maria Lienert}, title = {{DESINFORMAÇÃO NA INTERNET: FAKE NEWS DO QANON COMO REGIME DE INFORMAÇÃO}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {Ciências sociais aplicadas: Estado, organizações e desenvolvimento regional 3}, pages = {103--113}, publisher = {Atena Editora}, doi = {10.22533/at.ed.6592212129}, langid = {portuguese} } -
Murru, M. F. (2022). QAnon and Its Conspiracy Milieu: The Italian Case. In Eslen-Ziya, H. & Giorgi, A. (Eds.), Populism and Science in Europe, 163-184. Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-97535-7_8
A case study of QAnon's reception in Italy and the conspiracy milieu it joined. The chapter is part of a volume on populism and science in Europe.
BibTeX
@incollection{murru2022qanon, author = {Murru, Maria Francesca}, title = {{QAnon and Its Conspiracy Milieu: The Italian Case}}, year = {2022}, booktitle = {Populism and Science in Europe}, pages = {163--184}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-97535-7_8}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97535-7_8}, editor = {Eslen-Ziya, Hande and Giorgi, Alberta}, langid = {english} } -
Argentino, M. A. & Amarasingam, A. (2021). They Got It All under Control: QAnon, Conspiracy Theories, and the New Threats to Canadian National Security. Stress Tested: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Canadian National Security (eds. Leah West, Thomas Juneau, Amarnath Amarasingam), 15-32. University of Calgary Press. doi:10.1515/9781773852454-003
Chapter on the spread of QAnon and conspiracy theories in Canada during the pandemic and the resulting national-security challenges.
BibTeX
@incollection{argentino2021they, author = {Argentino, Marc-André and Amarasingam, Amarnath}, title = {{They Got It All under Control: QAnon, Conspiracy Theories, and the New Threats to Canadian National Security}}, year = {2021}, booktitle = {Stress Tested: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Canadian National Security (eds. Leah West, Thomas Juneau, Amarnath Amarasingam)}, pages = {15--32}, publisher = {University of Calgary Press}, doi = {10.1515/9781773852454-003}, url = {https://ucalgary.scholaris.ca/items/80715ee9-3cc4-4e34-8ed4-a0fc0ac43daf}, langid = {english} } -
Carmichael, C., Buxton, B., Hughes, S. & Braun, C. (2024). Domestic Terrorism: How the US Legal System is Falling Short. International Centre for Counter Terrorism. doi:10.19165/2024.3813
A report examining, through 26 QAnon-related and 18 incel federal prosecutions, how the US prosecutorial system uses non-terrorism charges against domestic violent extremism. It proposes a broader legal framework recognising, among others, conspiracy-theory-motivated violent extremism as a threat category.
BibTeX
@techreport{carmichael2024domestic, author = {Carmichael, Camden and Buxton, Brooke and Hughes, Seamus and Braun, Clara}, title = {{Domestic Terrorism: How the US Legal System is Falling Short}}, year = {2024}, institution = {International Centre for Counter Terrorism}, publisher = {International Centre for Counter Terrorism}, doi = {10.19165/2024.3813}, url = {https://doi.org/10.19165/2024.3813}, langid = {english} } -
PRRI Staff (2024-11-04). The Rise and Impact of Q: The 2024 Election from the View of QAnon Believers. PRRI Spotlight Analysis. PRRI. https://prri.org/spotlight/the-rise-and-impact-of-q-the-2024-election…
Analysis of PRRI's 2024 data using the composite QAnon measure, broken down by party, news sources and religious affiliation. 19% of Americans qualify as 'believers' (14% in 2021): 28% of Republicans, 16% of independents and 9% of Democrats, and 31% of those who get political information from YouTube.
BibTeX
@techreport{prri2024rise, author = {PRRI Staff}, title = {{The Rise and Impact of Q: The 2024 Election from the View of QAnon Believers}}, year = {2024}, institution = {PRRI}, publisher = {PRRI}, url = {https://prri.org/spotlight/the-rise-and-impact-of-q-the-2024-election-from-the-view-of-qanon-believers/}, date = {2024-11-04}, langid = {english} } -
PRRI (2023-10-25). Threats to American Democracy Ahead of an Unprecedented Presidential Election. American Values Survey 2023. PRRI. https://www.prri.org/research/threats-to-american-democracy-ahead-of-…
American Values Survey fielded online on 25-30 August 2023 among 2,525 adults from Ipsos's KnowledgePanel, repeating PRRI's three QAnon statements. QAnon 'believers' reached 23% (up from 14% in March 2021) and 'rejecters' fell from 40% to 29%.
BibTeX
@techreport{prri2023threats, author = {PRRI}, title = {{Threats to American Democracy Ahead of an Unprecedented Presidential Election}}, year = {2023}, institution = {PRRI}, publisher = {PRRI}, url = {https://www.prri.org/research/threats-to-american-democracy-ahead-of-an-unprecedented-presidential-election/}, date = {2023-10-25}, langid = {english} } -
Anti-Defamation League (2022-06-29). After 18-Month Hiatus, New QAnon Posts Surface. ADL Center on Extremism. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/after-18-month-hiatus-new-qanon…
Note on 'Q' re-emerging on 8kun on 24 June 2022 after more than 18 months of silence, and on followers' reception of the new posts.
BibTeX
@techreport{adl2022after, author = {Anti-Defamation League}, title = {{After 18-Month Hiatus, New QAnon Posts Surface}}, year = {2022}, institution = {ADL Center on Extremism}, publisher = {ADL Center on Extremism}, url = {https://www.adl.org/resources/article/after-18-month-hiatus-new-qanon-posts-surface}, date = {2022-06-29}, langid = {english} } -
Gallagher, A., Argentino, M. A. & Raja, A. (2022-10-10). She Drops: How QAnon Conspiracy Theories Legitimize Coordinated and Targeted Gender Based Violence. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/she-drops-how-qanon-conspiracy-…
Analysis, conducted in early 2021, of over 9 million posts and mentions on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter targeting six celebrities central to QAnon narratives between late 2019 and late 2020. The dominant form of harassment was brigading of individual targets with defamatory accusations of paedophilia, with a gendered dimension to this abuse.
BibTeX
@techreport{gallagher2022she, author = {Gallagher, Aoife and Argentino, Marc-André and Raja, Adnan}, title = {{She Drops: How QAnon Conspiracy Theories Legitimize Coordinated and Targeted Gender Based Violence}}, year = {2022}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, publisher = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/she-drops-how-qanon-conspiracy-theories-legitimize-coordinated-and-targeted-gender-based-violence/}, date = {2022-10-10}, langid = {english} } -
Holnburger, J., Goedeke Tort, M. & Lamberty, P. (2022-03-31). Q Vadis? The Spread of QAnon in the German-Speaking World. CeMAS – Center für Monitoring, Analyse und Strategie. https://cemas.io/en/publications/q-vadis-the-spread-of-qanon-in-the-g…
First representative data on agreement with QAnon narratives in Germany and Austria, combined with analysis of 115 Telegram channels, 84 groups and YouTube channels. 12.4% of Germans and 16.2% of Austrians agree at least in part with core QAnon narratives, as do 46% of the unvaccinated.
BibTeX
@techreport{holnburger2022qvadis, author = {Holnburger, Josef and Goedeke Tort, Maheba and Lamberty, Pia}, title = {{Q Vadis? The Spread of QAnon in the German-Speaking World}}, year = {2022}, institution = {CeMAS – Center für Monitoring, Analyse und Strategie}, publisher = {CeMAS – Center für Monitoring, Analyse und Strategie}, url = {https://cemas.io/en/publications/q-vadis-the-spread-of-qanon-in-the-german-speaking-world}, date = {2022-03-31}, langid = {english} } -
OrphAnalytics (2022-02-19). Computational linguistics sheds new light on QAnon's identity. OrphAnalytics SA. https://www.orphanalytics.com/en/news/whitepaper202201
Press release and white paper presenting authorship attribution by statistical counting of short character strings, applied to the full corpus of Q posts and compared with texts by candidate authors named in press investigations. The study, converging with an independent one at the École des chartes, concludes that the 4chan period (October-December 2017) was likely a collaboration between Paul Furber and Ron Watkins, after which the latter appears as the most likely sole author; this is a stylometric inference, not proof of identity.
BibTeX
@techreport{orphanalytics2022computational, author = {OrphAnalytics}, title = {{Computational linguistics sheds new light on QAnon's identity}}, year = {2022}, institution = {OrphAnalytics SA}, publisher = {OrphAnalytics SA}, url = {https://www.orphanalytics.com/en/news/whitepaper202201}, date = {2022-02-19}, langid = {english} } -
OrphAnalytics (2022-10-16). Ron Watkins confirmed as the most likely author of recent Q Drops. OrphAnalytics SA. https://www.orphanalytics.com/en/news/qanon-in-2022
Application of the same statistical method to the five posts published by 'Q' on 8kun on 24-29 June 2022 (about 600 characters), with a comparison corpus augmented by Ron Watkins's recent campaign writings. Despite the brevity of the corpus, the company reports a robust signal pointing to Watkins as the most likely author.
BibTeX
@techreport{orphanalytics2022recent, author = {OrphAnalytics}, title = {{Ron Watkins confirmed as the most likely author of recent Q Drops}}, year = {2022}, institution = {OrphAnalytics SA}, publisher = {OrphAnalytics SA}, url = {https://www.orphanalytics.com/en/news/qanon-in-2022}, date = {2022-10-16}, langid = {english} } -
PRRI (2022-02-24). The Persistence of QAnon in the Post-Trump Era: An Analysis of Who Believes the Conspiracies. PRRI. https://prri.org/research/the-persistence-of-qanon-in-the-post-trump-…
Pooling of four 2021 surveys (19,399 respondents): the share of QAnon 'believers' rose from 14% in March to 17% in October 2021.
BibTeX
@techreport{prri2022persistence, author = {PRRI}, title = {{The Persistence of QAnon in the Post-Trump Era: An Analysis of Who Believes the Conspiracies}}, year = {2022}, institution = {PRRI}, publisher = {PRRI}, url = {https://prri.org/research/the-persistence-of-qanon-in-the-post-trump-era-an-analysis-of-who-believes-the-conspiracies/}, date = {2022-02-24}, langid = {english} } -
PRRI Staff (2022-06-24). QAnon Beliefs Have Increased Since 2021 as Americans Are Less Likely to Reject Conspiracies. PRRI Spotlight Analysis. PRRI. https://prri.org/spotlight/qanon-beliefs-have-increased-since-2021-as…
Analysis of PRRI's composite measure built on three QAnon statements (Satan-worshipping paedophile cabal, coming 'storm', patriotic violence) tracked since March 2021. The share of 'believers' rose from 14% in March 2021 to 18% in March 2022, while those completely rejecting the statements fell from 40% to 30%.
BibTeX
@techreport{prri2022beliefs, author = {PRRI Staff}, title = {{QAnon Beliefs Have Increased Since 2021 as Americans Are Less Likely to Reject Conspiracies}}, year = {2022}, institution = {PRRI}, publisher = {PRRI}, url = {https://prri.org/spotlight/qanon-beliefs-have-increased-since-2021-as-americans-are-less-likely-to-reject-conspiracies/}, date = {2022-06-24}, langid = {english} } -
Anti-Defamation League (2021-01-21). QAnon: A Glossary. ADL Center on Extremism. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/qanon-glossary
Glossary of QAnon's main terms and slogans (WWG1WGA, The Storm, Trust the plan, adrenochrome, 17anon, etc.) compiled by the ADL Center on Extremism.
BibTeX
@techreport{adl2021qanon, author = {Anti-Defamation League}, title = {{QAnon: A Glossary}}, year = {2021}, institution = {ADL Center on Extremism}, publisher = {ADL Center on Extremism}, url = {https://www.adl.org/resources/article/qanon-glossary}, date = {2021-01-21}, langid = {english} } -
Graphika (2021-01-22). DisQualified: Network Impact of Twitter's Latest QAnon Enforcement. Graphika. https://www.graphika.com/blogs/disqualified-network-impact-of-twitter…
Re-examination of a Graphika network map of 13,856 highly connected Twitter accounts engaging with QAnon hashtags in spring 2020. As of 21 January 2021, 8,859 of them (over 60%) were inactive, which Graphika attributes mostly to the post-6 January suspension wave.
BibTeX
@techreport{graphika2021disqualified, author = {Graphika}, title = {{DisQualified: Network Impact of Twitter's Latest QAnon Enforcement}}, year = {2021}, institution = {Graphika}, publisher = {Graphika}, url = {https://www.graphika.com/blogs/disqualified-network-impact-of-twitters-latest-qanon-enforcement}, date = {2021-01-22}, langid = {english} } -
Harfoush, R. (2021). QAnon, la culture numérique et les élections françaises : 3 éléments à prendre en compte. Conseil national du numérique. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725223115/https://cnnumerique.fr/fil…
Note from France's Conseil national du numérique on the risks QAnon's influence and digital culture pose to French elections, in light of platform measures. Links to the archived copy.
BibTeX
@techreport{harfoush2021qanon, author = {Harfoush, Rahaf}, title = {{QAnon, la culture numérique et les élections françaises : 3 éléments à prendre en compte}}, year = {2021}, institution = {Conseil national du numérique}, publisher = {Conseil national du numérique}, url = {https://web.archive.org/web/20210725223115/https://cnnumerique.fr/files/uploads/2021/CNNum_Note-QAnon-la-culture-numerique-et-les-elections-francaises_VF.pdf}, langid = {french} } -
Holt, J. & Rizzuto, M. (2021-05-26). QAnon's hallmark catchphrases evaporating from the mainstream internet. Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), Atlantic Council. https://dfrlab.org/2021/05/26/qanons-hallmark-catchphrases-evaporatin…
Tracking of over 40 million uses of 13 QAnon catchphrases (Jan 2020 - Apr 2021): their decline on major platforms correlates with moderation actions, while peaks on Parler and Gab remain far lower.
BibTeX
@techreport{holt2021qanon, author = {Holt, Jared and Rizzuto, Max}, title = {{QAnon's hallmark catchphrases evaporating from the mainstream internet}}, year = {2021}, institution = {Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), Atlantic Council}, publisher = {Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), Atlantic Council}, url = {https://dfrlab.org/2021/05/26/qanons-hallmark-catchphrases-evaporating-from-the-mainstream-internet/}, date = {2021-05-26}, langid = {english} } -
Jensen, M. & Kane, S. (2021). QAnon Offenders in the United States. START, University of Maryland. https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/qanon-offenders-united-states
Research brief (September 2021) counting 101 QAnon followers who allegedly committed ideologically motivated crimes in the United States, including 61 participants in the Capitol attack.
BibTeX
@techreport{jensen2021qanon, author = {Jensen, Michael and Kane, Sheehan}, title = {{QAnon Offenders in the United States}}, year = {2021}, institution = {START, University of Maryland}, publisher = {START, University of Maryland}, url = {https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/qanon-offenders-united-states}, langid = {english} } -
PRRI (2021-05-27). Understanding QAnon's Connection to American Politics, Religion, and Media Consumption. PRRI. https://prri.org/research/qanon-conspiracy-american-politics-report/
National survey building a composite measure of QAnon belief ('believers', 14% of Americans) and crossing it with party, religious affiliation and media consumption.
BibTeX
@techreport{prri2021understanding, author = {PRRI}, title = {{Understanding QAnon's Connection to American Politics, Religion, and Media Consumption}}, year = {2021}, institution = {PRRI}, publisher = {PRRI}, url = {https://prri.org/research/qanon-conspiracy-american-politics-report/}, date = {2021-05-27}, langid = {english} } -
The Soufan Center (2021-04-19). Quantifying The Q Conspiracy: A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding the Threat Posed by QAnon. The Soufan Center. https://thesoufancenter.org/research/quantifying-the-q-conspiracy-a-d…
Special report based on social media data analysis, assessing the threat posed by QAnon and the role of foreign actors in amplifying its content.
BibTeX
@techreport{soufan2021quantifying, author = {The Soufan Center}, title = {{Quantifying The Q Conspiracy: A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding the Threat Posed by QAnon}}, year = {2021}, institution = {The Soufan Center}, publisher = {The Soufan Center}, url = {https://thesoufancenter.org/research/quantifying-the-q-conspiracy-a-data-driven-approach-to-understanding-the-threat-posed-by-qanon/}, date = {2021-04-19}, langid = {english} } -
Amadeu Antonio Stiftung (2020). QAnon in Germany. de:hate report #01. Amadeu Antonio Stiftung. https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/en/publications/qanon-in-germany/
First report of the de:hate monitoring project (English translation of the German version), analysing the main German-language QAnon groups and channels and radicalisation processes. Telegram and YouTube user data show that QAnon's growth in Germany since spring 2020 directly tracks the COVID-19 pandemic.
BibTeX
@techreport{aas2020qanon, author = {Amadeu Antonio Stiftung}, title = {{QAnon in Germany}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Amadeu Antonio Stiftung}, publisher = {Amadeu Antonio Stiftung}, url = {https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/en/publications/qanon-in-germany/}, langid = {english} } -
Blazina, C. (2020-11-16). 5 facts about the QAnon conspiracy theories. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/11/16/5-facts-about-the-…
Summary of Pew surveys: the share of Americans who had heard of QAnon rose from about 23% (early 2020) to 47% (September 2020), with sharp partisan differences in views of the movement.
BibTeX
@techreport{blazina2020facts, author = {Blazina, Carrie}, title = {{5 facts about the QAnon conspiracy theories}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Pew Research Center}, publisher = {Pew Research Center}, url = {https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/11/16/5-facts-about-the-qanon-conspiracy-theories/}, date = {2020-11-16}, langid = {english} } -
Gallagher, A., Davey, J. & Hart, M. (2020-07-24). The Genesis of a Conspiracy Theory. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/the-genesis-of-a-conspiracy-theory/
ISD report tracing QAnon activity across platforms from 2017 to 2020, identifying sharp spikes in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.
BibTeX
@techreport{gallagher2020genesis, author = {Gallagher, Aoife and Davey, Jacob and Hart, Mackenzie}, title = {{The Genesis of a Conspiracy Theory}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, publisher = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/the-genesis-of-a-conspiracy-theory/}, date = {2020-07-24}, langid = {english} } -
HOPE not hate (2020). QAnon in the UK. HOPE not hate Charitable Trust. https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/qanon-in-the-uk/
A report on the spread of QAnon in the United Kingdom and Europe, including polling on awareness of and support for the movement, an analysis of social media and links with the far right. It notes that British and European adherents dropped much American jargon in favour of slogans such as 'Save Our Children'.
BibTeX
@techreport{hopenothate2020qanon, author = {HOPE not hate}, title = {{QAnon in the UK}}, year = {2020}, institution = {HOPE not hate Charitable Trust}, publisher = {HOPE not hate Charitable Trust}, url = {https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/qanon-in-the-uk/}, langid = {english} } -
Institute for Strategic Dialogue & NewsGuard (2020-12-18). The Boom Before the Ban: QAnon and Facebook. Institute for Strategic Dialogue; NewsGuard. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201218-ISDG-Ne…
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of QAnon-related Facebook posts in the months before the October 2020 ban, including an analysis of the news domains shared. QAnon-associated terms ('WWG1WGA', 'pedogate') appeared over 1,000 times a day on average from April to September 2020, converging with COVID-19 misinformation and in more than 16 languages.
BibTeX
@techreport{isd2020boom, author = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue and NewsGuard}, title = {{The Boom Before the Ban: QAnon and Facebook}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue; NewsGuard}, publisher = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue; NewsGuard}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201218-ISDG-NewsGuard-QAnon-and-Facebook.pdf}, date = {2020-12-18}, langid = {english} } -
Ipsos (2020-12-30). More than 1 in 3 Americans believe a 'deep state' is working to undermine Trump. Ipsos. https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/npr-misinformation-123020
NPR/Ipsos online poll of 1,115 US adults conducted on 21-22 December 2020, including a ten-item true/false 'knowledge test'. 39% agree a 'deep state' is working to undermine Trump; 17% believe the QAnon claim that Satan-worshipping elites running a child sex ring control politics and media, and 37% are unsure.
BibTeX
@techreport{ipsos2020more, author = {Ipsos}, title = {{More than 1 in 3 Americans believe a 'deep state' is working to undermine Trump}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Ipsos}, publisher = {Ipsos}, url = {https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/npr-misinformation-123020}, date = {2020-12-30}, langid = {english} } -
McAweeney, E. (2020-09-02). Q-Tips: Measuring the Mainstreaming of QAnon During the Pandemic. Graphika. https://www.graphika.com/blogs/q-tips-measuring-the-mainstreaming-of-…
Graphika methods note combining network analysis, topic modelling and 'cultural bridging' to identify content, accounts, topics and hashtags linking otherwise disconnected communities. The aim is to measure how QAnon became a shared ideology across established communities during the pandemic, beyond simple keyword counts.
BibTeX
@techreport{mcaweeney2020qtips, author = {McAweeney, Erin}, title = {{Q-Tips: Measuring the Mainstreaming of QAnon During the Pandemic}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Graphika}, publisher = {Graphika}, url = {https://www.graphika.com/blogs/q-tips-measuring-the-mainstreaming-of-qanon-during-the-pandemic}, date = {2020-09-02}, langid = {english} } -
Mitchell, A., Jurkowitz, M., Oliphant, J. B. & Shearer, E. (2020-09-16). Most Americans who have heard of QAnon conspiracy theories say they are bad for the country and that Trump seems to support people who promote them. Political Divides, Conspiracy Theories and Divergent News Sources Heading Into 2020 Election. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/09/16/most-americans-who-…
Chapter of a report based on a survey of 9,220 American Trends Panel adults (31 August-7 September 2020). 47% of Americans had heard of QAnon (up from 23% in early March 2020); of these, 74% say it is bad for the country and 60% say Trump seems to support people who promote it.
BibTeX
@techreport{pew2020most, author = {Mitchell, Amy and Jurkowitz, Mark and Oliphant, J. Baxter and Shearer, Elisa}, title = {{Most Americans who have heard of QAnon conspiracy theories say they are bad for the country and that Trump seems to support people who promote them}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Pew Research Center}, publisher = {Pew Research Center}, url = {https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/09/16/most-americans-who-have-heard-of-qanon-conspiracy-theories-say-they-are-bad-for-the-country-and-that-trump-seems-to-support-people-who-promote-them/}, date = {2020-09-16}, langid = {english} } -
NewsGuard (2020). Special Report: QAnon in Europe. NewsGuard. https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-report-qanon/
A NewsGuard special report published in late July 2020 on QAnon's foothold in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, and on QAnon-specific accounts and groups there. It describes how QAnon narratives merged with pre-existing European conspiracy theories during the pandemic.
BibTeX
@techreport{newsguard2020special, author = {NewsGuard}, title = {{Special Report: QAnon in Europe}}, year = {2020}, institution = {NewsGuard}, publisher = {NewsGuard}, url = {https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-report-qanon/}, langid = {english} } -
OrphAnalytics (2020-12-15). Style analysis by machine learning reveals that two authors likely shared the writing of QAnon's messages at two different periods in time. OrphAnalytics SA. https://www.orphanalytics.com/en/news/whitepaper202012
White paper by a Swiss firm: stylometric analysis of 4,952 drops (28 Oct 2017 - 13 Nov 2020) finds two stylistic signatures matching two periods. Company document, not peer-reviewed.
BibTeX
@techreport{orphanalytics2020style, author = {OrphAnalytics}, title = {{Style analysis by machine learning reveals that two authors likely shared the writing of QAnon's messages at two different periods in time}}, year = {2020}, institution = {OrphAnalytics SA}, publisher = {OrphAnalytics SA}, url = {https://www.orphanalytics.com/en/news/whitepaper202012}, date = {2020-12-15}, langid = {english} } -
Schaffner, B. F. (2020-10-06). QAnon and Conspiracy Beliefs. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/qanon-and-conspiracy-beliefs-3/
Survey of 4,057 American adults measuring awareness of four QAnon-originated theories and belief in eight conspiracy theories. Only 7% view QAnon favourably, yet about one in five Americans recognised and believed at least one of the four QAnon claims, and 41% at least one of the eight theories tested.
BibTeX
@techreport{schaffner2020qanon, author = {Schaffner, Brian F.}, title = {{QAnon and Conspiracy Beliefs}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, publisher = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/qanon-and-conspiracy-beliefs-3/}, date = {2020-10-06}, langid = {english} } -
Smith, M. (2020-08-24). Interpreting Social Qs: Implications of the Evolution of QAnon. Graphika. https://www.graphika.com/reports/interpreting-social-qs-implications-…
Graphika briefing using network maps to chart the evolution of the online QAnon community and assess its potential for offline harm.
BibTeX
@techreport{smith2020interpreting, author = {Smith, Melanie}, title = {{Interpreting Social Qs: Implications of the Evolution of QAnon}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Graphika}, publisher = {Graphika}, url = {https://www.graphika.com/reports/interpreting-social-qs-implications-of-the-evolution-of-qanon}, date = {2020-08-24}, langid = {english} } -
Smith, M. (2020-10-15). House Intelligence Committee Hearing on Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories Online. Graphika. https://www.graphika.com/reports/house-intelligence-committee-hearing…
Written statement by Graphika's head of analysis to the House Intelligence Committee, drawing on the firm's network mapping. It describes QAnon's evolution from a fringe group into a mainstream threat to democracy.
BibTeX
@techreport{smith2020house, author = {Smith, Melanie}, title = {{House Intelligence Committee Hearing on Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories Online}}, year = {2020}, institution = {Graphika}, publisher = {Graphika}, url = {https://www.graphika.com/reports/house-intelligence-committee-hearing-on-misinformation-and-conspiracy-theories-online}, date = {2020-10-15}, langid = {english} } -
Söderlund, J. & Steinsvik, S. (2026). QAnon spelar schack - Brädet är ditt huvud: En kvalitativ undersökning av hur QAnon rörelsen använder sig av visuell politisk kommunikation, i form av ett meme-inlägg, för att sprida en Pro-Trump ideologi. Lund University. https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9218507
A bachelor's paper in media and communication studies (Lund University) analysing a meme posted on Instagram in 2024 comparing Donald Trump with Joe Biden, using framing theory, definitions of populism and visual semiotics. It identifies recurring themes (strength and weakness, framing of political leadership, humour).
BibTeX
@phdthesis{soderlund2026qanon, author = {Söderlund, Johanna and Steinsvik, Smilla}, title = {{QAnon spelar schack - Brädet är ditt huvud: En kvalitativ undersökning av hur QAnon rörelsen använder sig av visuell politisk kommunikation, i form av ett meme-inlägg, för att sprida en Pro-Trump ideologi}}, year = {2026}, school = {Lund University}, publisher = {Lund University}, url = {https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9218507}, langid = {sv} } -
Uca, E. R. (2026). Reading the Bible with QAnon: Truth and Conspiracy in American Evangelicalism. Northwestern University. doi:10.21985/n2-et5x-pa31
A doctoral dissertation on the relationship between QAnon and American evangelicalism through Bible reading. It examines notions of truth and conspiracy within that milieu.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{uca2026reading, author = {Uca, Eda Ruhiye}, title = {{Reading the Bible with QAnon: Truth and Conspiracy in American Evangelicalism}}, year = {2026}, school = {Northwestern University}, publisher = {Northwestern University}, doi = {10.21985/n2-et5x-pa31}, url = {https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-et5x-pa31}, langid = {english} } -
Appleby, M. F. (2025). Trust the Game: Gamification and the Rise of Online Conspiracy Theories. Virginia Tech. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124213
A doctoral dissertation examining how gamification helped QAnon move from the fringes of the internet into mainstream political discourse. Two survey experiments (on a Tupac conspiracy theory and on the 'stolen' 2020 election) yield significant evidence of gamification's persuasive effect in the first and mixed evidence in the second.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{appleby2025trust, author = {Appleby, Margaret Fannon}, title = {{Trust the Game: Gamification and the Rise of Online Conspiracy Theories}}, year = {2025}, school = {Virginia Tech}, publisher = {Virginia Tech}, url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124213}, langid = {english} } -
Ippolito, H. (2025). Red Pills, Rambo Jesus, and Righteous Digital Soldiers: The Relationship Between Memes, Religion, and On-Screen Storytelling in QAnon Communities. University of Denver. doi:10.56902/etdcrp.2025.131
A digital humanities PhD dissertation analysing over 4,800 QAnon-related memes collected mainly from Telegram, Truth Social and Twitter/X (2020-2025). It shows how they extend Christian nationalism by blending film references (The Matrix, action heroes, monsters) with evangelical imagery.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{ippolito2025red, author = {Ippolito, Heidi}, title = {{Red Pills, Rambo Jesus, and Righteous Digital Soldiers: The Relationship Between Memes, Religion, and On-Screen Storytelling in QAnon Communities}}, year = {2025}, school = {University of Denver}, publisher = {University of Denver}, doi = {10.56902/etdcrp.2025.131}, url = {https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2576/}, langid = {english} } -
Loertscher, P. (2025). Visions of Politics: Mapping Ideological Resonance in QAnon's Global Diffusion. University of Chicago. doi:10.6082/t4ww3-f4482
Thesis applying socio-symbolic network analysis (named entity recognition, semantic motifs, PCA) to 28.4 million Telegram posts from US and German QAnon communities (2019-2022). It finds strong alignment between the two worldviews, with local adaptations: a smaller role for religious figures in German discourse and European institutions added to the antagonist coalition.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{loertscher2025visions, author = {Loertscher, Pierre}, title = {{Visions of Politics: Mapping Ideological Resonance in QAnon's Global Diffusion}}, year = {2025}, school = {University of Chicago}, publisher = {University of Chicago}, doi = {10.6082/t4ww3-f4482}, url = {https://doi.org/10.6082/t4ww3-f4482}, langid = {english} } -
Mimizuka, K. (2025). Communities of misinformation: Japanese QAnon conspiracy theorists and their online "Watchers". The University of Texas at Austin. doi:10.26153/tsw/62868
A doctoral dissertation on Japanese QAnon followers and the online users who watch and respond to them. It argues that misinformation spreads through an activist logic of community and belonging, which community-based interventions can counter.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{mimizuka2025communities, author = {Mimizuka, Kayo}, title = {{Communities of misinformation: Japanese QAnon conspiracy theorists and their online "Watchers"}}, year = {2025}, school = {The University of Texas at Austin}, publisher = {The University of Texas at Austin}, doi = {10.26153/tsw/62868}, url = {https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/135548}, langid = {english} } -
Aubry, O. (2024). QAnon en France : étude des perceptions et analyse des mécanismes de diffusion et d'adhésion aux théories conspirationnistes. Mémoire de Master 2 Journalisme numérique et nouvelles écritures (dir. Félix Luschka). Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3. https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-05058228v1
Exploratory qualitative study: ten semi-structured interviews of about twenty minutes with adults recruited through the author's acquaintances, plus two expert interviews. In this small sample QAnon is little known and seen as an American, Trump-related phenomenon; it is not a measure of opinion, and the thesis's second-hand background facts contain errors (including a Q 'farewell post' dated 20 January 2021).
BibTeX
@phdthesis{aubry2024qanon, author = {Aubry, Odessa}, title = {{QAnon en France : étude des perceptions et analyse des mécanismes de diffusion et d'adhésion aux théories conspirationnistes}}, year = {2024}, school = {Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3}, publisher = {Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3}, url = {https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-05058228v1}, langid = {french} } -
Barbesino, N. (2024). 'White, God, and Country': Exploring the eschatological origins of QAnon in American history and its violent extremist nature.. Univerzita Karlova, Fakulta sociálních věd. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11956/197714
Master's thesis (Department of Security Studies, Charles University) on the eschatological origins of QAnon in American history and its violent extremist nature. No abstract is available in the repository metadata.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{barbesino2024white, author = {Barbesino, Nicola}, title = {{'White, God, and Country': Exploring the eschatological origins of QAnon in American history and its violent extremist nature.}}, year = {2024}, school = {Univerzita Karlova, Fakulta sociálních věd}, publisher = {Univerzita Karlova, Fakulta sociálních věd}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11956/197714}, langid = {english} } -
Gatenheim, C. (2024). National Heroes, Digital Soldiers, Vulnerable Children and all the Others: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Videos Communicating the QAnon Conspiracy Theory. University of Gothenburg. https://hdl.handle.net/2077/80059
A master's-level thesis (University of Gothenburg, Department of Cultural Sciences) applying multimodal critical discourse analysis and Sara Ahmed's cultural theory of emotions to videos spreading the QAnon theory. It shows how the videos set a popular 'Us' against a 'Cabal' elite, rank the community of adherents and other migrant, queer or non-conforming bodies.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{gatenheim2024national, author = {Gatenheim, Cecilia}, title = {{National Heroes, Digital Soldiers, Vulnerable Children and all the Others: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Videos Communicating the QAnon Conspiracy Theory}}, year = {2024}, school = {University of Gothenburg}, publisher = {University of Gothenburg}, url = {https://hdl.handle.net/2077/80059}, langid = {english} } -
Janoušek, H. (2024). Interconnection between the Republican party in the USA and the disinformation movement QAnon. Univerzita Karlova. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-621273
A master's thesis in Czech (Charles University, Prague; original title 'Propojování Republikánské strany v USA a dezinformačního hnutí QAnon') on the links between QAnon and the Republican Party. It describes QAnon's popularity by party affiliation, its targeting of Republican supporters and its influence on Republican politicians and the party's direction.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{janousek2024interconnection, author = {Janoušek, Hynek}, title = {{Interconnection between the Republican party in the USA and the disinformation movement QAnon}}, year = {2024}, school = {Univerzita Karlova}, publisher = {Univerzita Karlova}, url = {http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-621273}, langid = {czech} } -
Lindblom, V. (2024). The deep state and the COVID-19 hoax : The influence of the American conspiracy theory movement QAnon in Finnish online discussions. University of Helsinki. http://hdl.handle.net/10138/572111
Master's thesis comparing US and Finnish online discussions referencing QAnon through qualitative content analysis. The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a supposed world-ruling elite are themes common to both countries.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{lindblom2024deep, author = {Lindblom, Vera}, title = {{The deep state and the COVID-19 hoax : The influence of the American conspiracy theory movement QAnon in Finnish online discussions}}, year = {2024}, school = {University of Helsinki}, publisher = {University of Helsinki}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10138/572111}, langid = {fi} } -
Pachman, V. (2024). Vliv konspirační teorie QAnon na volby a politické dění v USA. Univerzita Karlova. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-651519
A bachelor's thesis (Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague) using process tracing to study QAnon's role in the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack and the 2022 elections. It concludes that QAnon mobilised a significant number of people to violent action and helped transform political discourse.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{pachman2024vliv, author = {Pachman, Vilém}, title = {{Vliv konspirační teorie QAnon na volby a politické dění v USA}}, year = {2024}, school = {Univerzita Karlova}, publisher = {Univerzita Karlova}, url = {http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-651519}, langid = {czech} } -
Vestergaard, M. (2024). From the Fringe to the Mainstream: The Impact of QAnon and Its Conspiratorial Narratives on Politics and Security in the United States. Univerzita Karlova. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-678545
A master's thesis (Department of Security Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague). It deals with the impact of QAnon and its conspiratorial narratives on politics and security in the United States.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{vestergaard2024fringe, author = {Vestergaard, Mads}, title = {{From the Fringe to the Mainstream: The Impact of QAnon and Its Conspiratorial Narratives on Politics and Security in the United States}}, year = {2024}, school = {Univerzita Karlova}, publisher = {Univerzita Karlova}, url = {http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-678545}, langid = {english} } -
Andrade, T. M. (2023). QAMOMS: Understanding How Women Shaped the QAnon Movement in the United States of America. Naval Postgraduate School. https://hdl.handle.net/10945/72316
A master's thesis on the role of women, particularly mothers, in QAnon's growth. It describes how they carried the movement from male-dominated online spaces such as 4chan into mainstream social media.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{andrade2023qamoms, author = {Andrade, Teresa M.}, title = {{QAMOMS: Understanding How Women Shaped the QAnon Movement in the United States of America}}, year = {2023}, school = {Naval Postgraduate School}, publisher = {Naval Postgraduate School}, url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10945/72316}, langid = {english} } -
Revis, E. (2023). Our God's Appointed Ones: Using Eastern Cults to Predict Possible Paths for QAnon. Harvard University Division of Continuing Education. https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37377236
A master's thesis that considers three possible paths for QAnon using three Asian religious movements: the Unification Church (pan-institutional path), Soka Gakkai (political party path) and Aum Shinrikyo (violent path). It argues that these cases help identify cult-like behaviours relevant to studying Western movements.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{revis2023our, author = {Revis, Eric}, title = {{Our God's Appointed Ones: Using Eastern Cults to Predict Possible Paths for QAnon}}, year = {2023}, school = {Harvard University Division of Continuing Education}, publisher = {Harvard University Division of Continuing Education}, url = {https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37377236}, langid = {english} } -
Sandy, B. N. (2023). Sacred Bodies: Gendered Experiences within the QAnon Mythology. Univerzita Karlova. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-538813
A master's thesis (Charles University, Prague) offering a thematic analysis of the gendered theologies QAnon draws on and creates. It examines the 'canon' of Q drops from 2017 to 2022 through a feminist lens.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{sandy2023sacred, author = {Sandy, Brianna Nicole}, title = {{Sacred Bodies: Gendered Experiences within the QAnon Mythology}}, year = {2023}, school = {Univerzita Karlova}, publisher = {Univerzita Karlova}, url = {http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-538813}, langid = {english} } -
Cantwell, O. D. (2022). Infonation, or How Americans Imagine(d) the QAnon Movement. Wesleyan University. doi:10.14418/wes01.1.2525
A Bachelor of Arts honors thesis from Wesleyan University. It deals with how Americans imagined the QAnon movement.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{cantwell2022infonation, author = {Cantwell, Ori Dranitzke}, title = {{Infonation, or How Americans Imagine(d) the QAnon Movement}}, year = {2022}, school = {Wesleyan University}, publisher = {Wesleyan University}, doi = {10.14418/wes01.1.2525}, url = {https://doi.org/10.14418/wes01.1.2525}, langid = {english} } -
Miotto, N. (2022). Stand against the wiles of the devil. Interpreting QAnon as a Christian extremist movement. Univerzita Karlova. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-512150
A master's thesis (Charles University, Prague) interpreting QAnon as a Christian extremist movement. It starts from followers' involvement in the Capitol attack and the 2022 Canadian Freedom Convoys to examine the role of religious beliefs in radicalisation.
BibTeX
@phdthesis{miotto2022stand, author = {Miotto, Nicolò}, title = {{Stand against the wiles of the devil. Interpreting QAnon as a Christian extremist movement}}, year = {2022}, school = {Univerzita Karlova}, publisher = {Univerzita Karlova}, url = {http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-512150}, langid = {english} } -
Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (2022-12-22). Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. H. Rept. 117-663, 117th Congress, 2nd Session. U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-J6-REPORT
Final report of the House select committee investigating the 6 January 2021 attack, organised in eight narrative chapters, recommendations and appendices. Chapter 6 devotes a section (6.9) to QAnon and the 'Operation Occupy the Capitol' call, and chapter 8 describes QAnon adherents among those on the front lines of the assault.
BibTeX
@misc{house2022final, author = {Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol}, title = {{Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {H. Rept. 117-663, 117th Congress, 2nd Session}, publisher = {U.S. Government Publishing Office}, url = {https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-J6-REPORT}, date = {2022-12-22}, langid = {english} } -
Twitter (2021-01-12). An update following the riots in Washington, DC. Twitter Blog. https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2021/protecting--the-co…
Twitter post detailing the measures taken after the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack, including the permanent suspension, from 8 January, of accounts primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content. More than 70,000 accounts were suspended, often several per individual; accounts sharing such content occasionally faced reduced visibility.
BibTeX
@misc{twitter2021update, author = {Twitter}, title = {{An update following the riots in Washington, DC}}, year = {2021}, publisher = {Twitter Blog}, url = {https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2021/protecting--the-conversation-following-the-riots-in-washington--}, date = {2021-01-12}, langid = {english} } -
Meta (2020-08-19). An Update to How We Address Movements and Organizations Tied to Violence. Meta Newsroom. https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/addressing-movements-and-organizati…
Facebook announcement extending its Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy to 'militarized social movements' and violence-inducing conspiracy networks such as QAnon, updated on 6 October 2020 to remove any Page, Group or Instagram account 'representing' QAnon even without violent content. The 17 October 2022 update reports about 4,200 Pages, 12,000 groups, 67,200 Facebook profiles and 38,800 Instagram accounts removed under the QAnon policy.
BibTeX
@misc{meta2020update, author = {Meta}, title = {{An Update to How We Address Movements and Organizations Tied to Violence}}, year = {2020}, publisher = {Meta Newsroom}, url = {https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/addressing-movements-and-organizations-tied-to-violence/}, date = {2020-08-19}, langid = {english} } -
U.S. House of Representatives (2020-10-02). H.Res.1154 - Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes. 116th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/1154
Resolution introduced on 25 September 2020 by Tom Malinowski and adopted by the House on 2 October 2020 (371-18); it condemns QAnon and urges federal law enforcement to focus on violence it inspires.
BibTeX
@misc{house2020condemning, author = {U.S. House of Representatives}, title = {{H.Res.1154 - Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {116th Congress}, url = {https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/1154}, date = {2020-10-02}, langid = {english} } -
YouTube (2020-10-15). Managing harmful conspiracy theories on YouTube. YouTube Official Blog. https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/harmful-conspiracy-theories-youtube
YouTube announcement extending its hate and harassment policies to conspiracy content, including QAnon and Pizzagate, that targets individuals or groups and is used to justify real-world violence. YouTube states it had already removed tens of thousands of QAnon videos and hundreds of channels, and that views from non-subscribed recommendations to prominent Q-related channels had dropped by over 80% since January 2019.
BibTeX
@misc{youtube2020managing, author = {YouTube}, title = {{Managing harmful conspiracy theories on YouTube}}, year = {2020}, publisher = {YouTube Official Blog}, url = {https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/harmful-conspiracy-theories-youtube}, date = {2020-10-15}, langid = {english} } -
Federal Bureau of Investigation, P. F. O. (2019-05-30). Anti-Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, Sometimes Violent Activity. FBI Intelligence Bulletin. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Anti-Government,_Identity_Based,_and_F…
FBI Phoenix field office bulletin, revealed by Yahoo News in August 2019, assessing that conspiracy theories including QAnon and Pizzagate very likely motivate some extremists to commit crimes.
BibTeX
@misc{fbi2019antigovernment, author = {Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phoenix Field Office}, title = {{Anti-Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, Sometimes Violent Activity}}, year = {2019}, howpublished = {FBI Intelligence Bulletin}, url = {https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Anti-Government,_Identity_Based,_and_Fringe_Political_Conspiracy_Theories_Very_Likely_Motivate_Some_Domestic_Extremists_to_Commit_Criminal,_Sometimes_Violent_Activity}, date = {2019-05-30}, langid = {english} } -
WWG1WGA (2019). QAnon: An Invitation to The Great Awakening. Relentlessly Creative Books. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19093516W
A collective book published in February 2019 by QAnon supporters under the collective name WWG1WGA, presenting the movement from the inside. A primary source, it illustrates the movement's entry into mainstream publishing.
BibTeX
@misc{wwg1wga2019qanon, author = {WWG1WGA}, title = {{QAnon: An Invitation to The Great Awakening}}, year = {2019}, publisher = {Relentlessly Creative Books}, url = {https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19093516W}, langid = {english} } -
Jipson, A. (2025). How the QAnon movement entered mainstream politics – and why the silence on Epstein files matters. The Conversation. doi:10.64628/aai.v9qmyruwu
A popular article by a scholar of extremism, published in July 2025, tracing QAnon's path from Pizzagate to mainstream politics. It explains why the incomplete release of the Epstein files unsettles followers who see Donald Trump as the heroic figure of their narrative.
BibTeX
@misc{jipson2025how, author = {Jipson, Art}, title = {{How the QAnon movement entered mainstream politics – and why the silence on Epstein files matters}}, year = {2025}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, doi = {10.64628/aai.v9qmyruwu}, url = {https://theconversation.com/how-the-qanon-movement-entered-mainstream-politics-and-why-the-silence-on-epstein-files-matters-261316}, langid = {english} } -
Matthews, T. (2024). Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon. The Conversation. doi:10.64628/ab.s4wc4d3ve
A general-audience article comparing QAnon's 'deep state' doctrine with Descartes's radical doubt and his hypothesis of a deceiving 'evil genius'. The author uses the comparison to shed light on adherents' quest for certainty.
BibTeX
@misc{matthews2024descartes, author = {Matthews, Taylor}, title = {{Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon}}, year = {2024}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, doi = {10.64628/ab.s4wc4d3ve}, url = {https://theconversation.com/descartes-and-the-deep-state-what-17th-century-philosophy-reveals-about-trump-and-qanon-229675}, langid = {english} } -
Coromines, L. (2023-11-24). Le mariage entre New Age et QAnon va (toujours) bien, merci pour lui. L'ADN. https://www.ladn.eu/nouveaux-usages/le-mariage-entre-new-age-et-qanon…
A review piece by French outlet L'ADN on the convergence between New Age spiritualities and QAnon since the pandemic, often called 'pastel QAnon'. It takes stock of the phenomenon's persistence in 2023.
BibTeX
@misc{coromines2023mariage, author = {Coromines, Laure}, title = {{Le mariage entre New Age et QAnon va (toujours) bien, merci pour lui}}, year = {2023}, howpublished = {L'ADN}, url = {https://www.ladn.eu/nouveaux-usages/le-mariage-entre-new-age-et-qanon-va-toujours-bien-merci-pour-lui/}, date = {2023-11-24}, langid = {french} } -
Dover, R. (2023-02-06). QAnon is spreading outside the US – a conspiracy theory expert explains what that could mean. The Conversation. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. doi:10.64628/ab.hrfh3y77u
A piece by a British intelligence scholar on QAnon's spread beyond the United States. It considers what this spread could mean.
BibTeX
@misc{dover2023qanon, author = {Dover, Robert}, title = {{QAnon is spreading outside the US – a conspiracy theory expert explains what that could mean}}, year = {2023}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, publisher = {The Conversation Media Group Ltd}, doi = {10.64628/ab.hrfh3y77u}, date = {2023-02-06}, langid = {english} } -
Aidarbekova, A. (2022-04-15). Russia’s QAnon Followers Can’t Make Up Their Minds About Ukraine. Bellingcat. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/04/15/russias-qanon-followers-ca…
Bellingcat notes that while international QAnon followers often see Vladimir Putin as an ally against the 'cabal', the invasion of Ukraine made some Russian adherents think twice. The article analyses the reactions of this Russian-speaking community.
BibTeX
@misc{aidarbekova2022russia, author = {Aidarbekova, Aiganysh}, title = {{Russia’s QAnon Followers Can’t Make Up Their Minds About Ukraine}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Bellingcat}, url = {https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/04/15/russias-qanon-followers-cant-make-up-their-minds-about-ukraine/}, date = {2022-04-15}, langid = {english} } -
Audureau, W. (2022-01-07). Un an après l’attaque du Capitole, la communauté QAnon morcelée, mais toujours influente. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2022/01/07/un-an-apres-l…
Review of the QAnon milieu a year after 6 January 2021: fragmented into many factions, it keeps feeding conspiracy circles with more marginal and more extreme claims.
BibTeX
@misc{audureau2022an, author = {Audureau, William}, title = {{Un an après l’attaque du Capitole, la communauté QAnon morcelée, mais toujours influente}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Le Monde}, url = {https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2022/01/07/un-an-apres-l-attaque-du-capitole-la-communaute-qanon-balkanisee-mais-toujours-influente_6108607_4355770.html}, date = {2022-01-07}, langid = {french} } -
Authier, P. (2022-02-22). Qui se trouve derrière QAnon? La stylométrie a peut-être la réponse. RTS Info. https://www.rts.ch/info/monde/12886758-qui-se-trouve-derriere-qanon-l…
Swiss public broadcaster report on the stylometric studies, including Swiss firm OrphAnalytics', with critical comments from a University of Neuchâtel linguist.
BibTeX
@misc{authier2022qui, author = {Authier, Philéas}, title = {{Qui se trouve derrière QAnon? La stylométrie a peut-être la réponse}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {RTS Info}, url = {https://www.rts.ch/info/monde/12886758-qui-se-trouve-derriere-qanon-la-stylometrie-a-peutetre-la-reponse.html}, date = {2022-02-22}, langid = {french} } -
Beigang, M. (2022-04-01). QAnon in Deutschland: Jeder Zehnte glaubt an die Verschwörungsideologie. Berliner Zeitung. https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/article/220171
A Berliner Zeitung article presenting the findings of the CeMAS study on agreement with QAnon narratives in Germany. It stresses that the milieu there is larger than previously thought.
BibTeX
@misc{beigang2022qanon, author = {Beigang, Maxi}, title = {{QAnon in Deutschland: Jeder Zehnte glaubt an die Verschwörungsideologie}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Berliner Zeitung}, url = {https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/article/220171}, date = {2022-04-01}, langid = {german} } -
Kirkpatrick, D. D. (2022-02-19). Who Is Behind QAnon? Linguistic Detectives Find Fingerprints. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/19/technology/qanon-messages-authors.html
Report that two independent teams (OrphAnalytics; Cafiero and Camps) used stylometry to attribute the early drops to Paul Furber and later ones to Ron Watkins, both of whom deny it.
BibTeX
@misc{kirkpatrick2022who, author = {Kirkpatrick, David D.}, title = {{Who Is Behind QAnon? Linguistic Detectives Find Fingerprints}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {The New York Times}, url = {https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/19/technology/qanon-messages-authors.html}, date = {2022-02-19}, langid = {english} } -
Lighthouse Reports & Bellingcat (2022-10-05). Tracking QAnon in Europe. Lighthouse Reports. https://www.lighthousereports.com/investigation/qanon-in-europe-traci…
A year-long data investigation by Lighthouse Reports and Bellingcat, built on a database of posts from QAnon-associated channels in twelve European and North American countries and co-published with outlets including Der Spiegel, Il Manifesto, Le Monde and Trouw. It shows how QAnon narratives shift by country: monetisation in Germany, a COVID entry point in Italy, the 'biolabs' rumour in France, a farming dispute in the Netherlands.
BibTeX
@misc{lighthouse2022tracking, author = {Lighthouse Reports and Bellingcat}, title = {{Tracking QAnon in Europe}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Lighthouse Reports}, url = {https://www.lighthousereports.com/investigation/qanon-in-europe-tracing-a-viral-conspiracy/}, date = {2022-10-05}, langid = {english} } -
Mossou, A. & Geiger, G. (2022-12-21). As QAnon Falters, European Followers Flock to a Financial Conspiracy. Bellingcat. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/12/21/as-qanon-falters-european-…
Bellingcat shows that as QAnon tropes wane, interest in GESARA and its promise of a 'global economic reset' has surged on Europe's conspiracist Telegram channels. The article draws on the database built for the European investigation with Lighthouse Reports.
BibTeX
@misc{mossou2022qanon, author = {Mossou, Annique and Geiger, Gabriel}, title = {{As QAnon Falters, European Followers Flock to a Financial Conspiracy}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Bellingcat}, url = {https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/12/21/as-qanon-falters-european-followers-flock-to-a-financial-conspiracy/}, date = {2022-12-21}, langid = {english} } -
Reynaud, F. & Brandy, G. (2022-10-13). Comment les théories conspirationnistes de QAnon se déversent sur l’Europe. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/10/13/comment-les-theories…
Le Monde's instalment of the European investigation conducted with Lighthouse Reports and Bellingcat into QAnon-associated channels. It describes how the movement's narratives spread and change from one European country to another.
BibTeX
@misc{reynaud2022comment, author = {Reynaud, Florian and Brandy, Grégor}, title = {{Comment les théories conspirationnistes de QAnon se déversent sur l’Europe}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Le Monde}, url = {https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/10/13/comment-les-theories-conspirationnistes-de-qanon-se-deversent-sur-l-europe_6145699_4408996.html}, date = {2022-10-13}, langid = {french} } -
Storchan, V. (2022-03-18). Comment nous avons trouvé qui était derrière QAnon. Le Grand Continent. https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2022/03/18/comment-nous-avons-trouve-q…
Interview with Jean-Baptiste Camps and Florian Cafiero on their stylometric attribution of the drops; they present their results as plausible hypotheses rather than definitive proof.
BibTeX
@misc{storchan2022comment, author = {Storchan, Victor}, title = {{Comment nous avons trouvé qui était derrière QAnon}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Le Grand Continent}, url = {https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2022/03/18/comment-nous-avons-trouve-qui-etait-derriere-qanon/}, date = {2022-03-18}, langid = {french} } -
Yeung, J. & Sukegawa, T. (2022-12-23). QAnon members in Japan sentenced for breaking into Covid vaccination centers. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/23/asia/japan-qanon-yamatoq-sentenced…
CNN reports on a Tokyo court sentencing members of YamatoQ, a Japanese QAnon offshoot, for breaking into COVID-19 vaccination centres. The article places the case within the emergence of several QAnon groups in Japan.
BibTeX
@misc{yeung2022qanon, author = {Yeung, Jessie and Sukegawa, Tetsu}, title = {{QAnon members in Japan sentenced for breaking into Covid vaccination centers}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {CNN}, url = {https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/23/asia/japan-qanon-yamatoq-sentenced-intl-hnk/index.html}, date = {2022-12-23}, langid = {english} } -
Argentino, M. A. (2021-01-07). QAnon et l'assaut du Capitole : l'effet réel des théories du complot en ligne. The Conversation (France). doi:10.64628/aap.kfpff743d
Analysis, the day after 6 January 2021, of QAnon followers' role in the Capitol attack and the move from online theories to action.
BibTeX
@misc{argentino2021qanon, author = {Argentino, Marc-André}, title = {{QAnon et l'assaut du Capitole : l'effet réel des théories du complot en ligne}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {The Conversation (France)}, doi = {10.64628/aap.kfpff743d}, url = {https://theconversation.com/qanon-et-lassaut-du-capitole-leffet-reel-des-theories-du-complot-en-ligne-152853}, date = {2021-01-07}, langid = {french} } -
Conspiracy Watch (2021-01-16). QAnon dans le collimateur d'une mission sur les dérives sectaires. Conspiracy Watch. https://www.conspiracywatch.info/qanon-dans-le-collimateur-dune-missi…
An article by the French Conspiracy Watch observatory on the inspection mission on new sectarian groups in France commissioned by Marlène Schiappa, minister delegate for citizenship. The QAnon movement is among the targets of government attention.
BibTeX
@misc{conspiracywatch2021qanon, author = {Conspiracy Watch}, title = {{QAnon dans le collimateur d'une mission sur les dérives sectaires}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Conspiracy Watch}, url = {https://www.conspiracywatch.info/qanon-dans-le-collimateur-dune-mission-sur-les-derives-sectaires.html}, date = {2021-01-16}, langid = {french} } -
Eder, T. & Firsova, E. (2021-02-12). Transatlantic Convergence or Divergence? QAnon after January Twentieth. Wilson Center. https://infosphereinvaders.wilsoncenter.org/article/transatlantic-con…
An analysis published by the Wilson Center on QAnon's future after its predictions failed at Joe Biden's inauguration on 20 January 2021. It compares likely trajectories in Germany, where the movement merged with anti-lockdown and far-right milieus, and in the United States.
BibTeX
@misc{eder2021transatlantic, author = {Eder, Teresa and Firsova, Elizaveta}, title = {{Transatlantic Convergence or Divergence? QAnon after January Twentieth}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Wilson Center}, url = {https://infosphereinvaders.wilsoncenter.org/article/transatlantic-convergence-or-divergence-qanon-after-january-twentieth}, date = {2021-02-12}, langid = {english} } -
Gilbert, D. (2021-02-22). QAnon Is So Big in France That Even the Government Is Worried. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a9gx/qanon-is-so-big-in-france-that…
A Vice article on QAnon's growth in France in early 2021 and on the inquiry launched by the authorities, including the anti-sect agency Miviludes, to assess the threat posed by the movement.
BibTeX
@misc{gilbert2021qanon, author = {Gilbert, David}, title = {{QAnon Is So Big in France That Even the Government Is Worried}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Vice}, url = {https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a9gx/qanon-is-so-big-in-france-that-even-the-government-is-worried}, date = {2021-02-22}, langid = {english} } -
Macé, M. & Plottu, P. (2021-08-04). Les QAnons français : qui sont-ils ?. Conspiracy Watch. https://www.conspiracywatch.info/les-qanons-francais-qui-sont-ils.html
Investigation of French QAnon promoters, their themes (health, vaccines) and channels (alternative video platforms, Telegram, far-right-linked sites).
BibTeX
@misc{mace2021qanons, author = {Macé, Maxime and Plottu, Pierre}, title = {{Les QAnons français : qui sont-ils ?}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Conspiracy Watch}, url = {https://www.conspiracywatch.info/les-qanons-francais-qui-sont-ils.html}, date = {2021-08-04}, langid = {french} } -
Montgomery, H. (2021-01-08). Japanese QAnon Supporters Are (Still) Seeking Salvation in Trump. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/japanese-qanon-supporters-are-still-s…
A Vice report on Japanese QAnon supporters, who organised demonstrations notably in Tokyo and Nagoya. It shows that their faith in Donald Trump survived his election defeat.
BibTeX
@misc{montgomery2021japanese, author = {Montgomery, Hanako}, title = {{Japanese QAnon Supporters Are (Still) Seeking Salvation in Trump}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Vice}, url = {https://www.vice.com/en/article/japanese-qanon-supporters-are-still-seeking-salvation-in-trump}, date = {2021-01-08}, langid = {english} } -
Muggah, R. (2021-02-12). In Brazil, QAnon Has a Distinctly Bolsonaro Flavor. Instituto Igarapé. https://igarape.org.br/in-brazil-qanon-has-a-distinctly-bolsonaro-flavor/
An op-ed republished by Instituto Igarapé (first published in Foreign Policy) on QAnon's adaptation to the Brazilian context. It links online misinformation to the Jair Bolsonaro government's downplaying of COVID-19 and describes QAnon symbols appearing at Brazilian protests and in messaging apps.
BibTeX
@misc{muggah2021brazil, author = {Muggah, Robert}, title = {{In Brazil, QAnon Has a Distinctly Bolsonaro Flavor}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Instituto Igarapé}, url = {https://igarape.org.br/in-brazil-qanon-has-a-distinctly-bolsonaro-flavor/}, date = {2021-02-12}, langid = {english} } -
Rupar, V. & De Smedt, T. (2021-01-19). Trump’s time is up, but his Twitter legacy lives on in the global spread of QAnon conspiracy theories. The Conversation. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. doi:10.64628/aa.e4wgfqsqq
A piece by two researchers on the role of Twitter and Donald Trump in the global spread of QAnon theories, on the eve of the end of his term. It argues that this international spread will outlast him.
BibTeX
@misc{rupar2021trump, author = {Rupar, Verica and De Smedt, Tom}, title = {{Trump’s time is up, but his Twitter legacy lives on in the global spread of QAnon conspiracy theories}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, publisher = {The Conversation Media Group Ltd}, doi = {10.64628/aa.e4wgfqsqq}, date = {2021-01-19}, langid = {english} } -
The Q Origins Project (2021-04-22). How Q's 'Lost Drops' Undermine the QAnon Myth. Bellingcat. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/04/22/how-qs-lost-drops-undermin…
Analysis of 'lost' October 2017 posts missing from canonical collections but textually linked to the first drops, situating Q's origins in 4chan culture.
BibTeX
@misc{qorigins2021how, author = {The Q Origins Project}, title = {{How Q's 'Lost Drops' Undermine the QAnon Myth}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Bellingcat}, url = {https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/04/22/how-qs-lost-drops-undermine-the-qanon-myth/}, date = {2021-04-22}, langid = {english} } -
Tian, E. (2021-01-29). The QAnon Timeline: Four Years, 5,000 Drops and Countless Failed Prophecies. Bellingcat. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/01/29/the-qanon-timeline/
Period-by-period thematic timeline of the 4,952 drops (Oct 2017 - Oct 2020) and their failed prophecies.
BibTeX
@misc{tian2021qanon, author = {Tian, Edward}, title = {{The QAnon Timeline: Four Years, 5,000 Drops and Countless Failed Prophecies}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Bellingcat}, url = {https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/01/29/the-qanon-timeline/}, date = {2021-01-29}, langid = {english} } -
Wheeldon, T. (2021-02-20). 'Stakes are high' as QAnon conspiracy phenomenon emerges in France. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210220-stakes-are-high-as-qanon-…
Article on QAnon's emergence in France, which led the government to order a multi-agency inquiry (including Miviludes).
BibTeX
@misc{wheeldon2021stakes, author = {Wheeldon, Tom}, title = {{'Stakes are high' as QAnon conspiracy phenomenon emerges in France}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {France 24}, url = {https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210220-stakes-are-high-as-qanon-conspiracy-phenomenon-emerges-in-france}, date = {2021-02-20}, langid = {english} } -
Wild, J. (2021-11-24). Toy Rabbits, Chemtrails and German QAnon Fanatics: How Not to Conduct Open Source Investigations. Bellingcat. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/11/24/toy-rabbits-chemtrails-and…
Bellingcat analyses how German-speaking QAnon adherents adopt open-source investigation tools to 'validate' their theories. The results of this 'research' are misleading and confused.
BibTeX
@misc{wild2021toy, author = {Wild, Johanna}, title = {{Toy Rabbits, Chemtrails and German QAnon Fanatics: How Not to Conduct Open Source Investigations}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Bellingcat}, url = {https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/11/24/toy-rabbits-chemtrails-and-german-qanon-fanatics-how-not-to-conduct-open-source-investigations/}, date = {2021-11-24}, langid = {english} } -
AFP (2020-09-14). La mouvance QAnon, née dans les milieux pro-Trump, est en train de se répandre en Europe: "Des signaux inquiétants". La Libre. https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/la-mouvance-qanon-nee-dan…
An AFP dispatch republished by Belgian daily La Libre on QAnon's arrival in Europe during the pandemic. It describes how the narratives adapted to national contexts, notably in Germany and France, quoting researchers and French institutional sources.
BibTeX
@misc{afp2020mouvance, author = {AFP}, title = {{La mouvance QAnon, née dans les milieux pro-Trump, est en train de se répandre en Europe: "Des signaux inquiétants"}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {La Libre}, url = {https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/la-mouvance-qanon-nee-dans-les-milieux-pro-trump-est-en-train-de-se-repandre-en-europe-des-signaux-inquietants-5f5f52a49978e2322ffa3000}, date = {2020-09-14}, langid = {french} } -
Argentino, M. A. (2020-10-20). QAnon est banni de Facebook, mais la bataille contre les théories du complot n'est pas gagnée. The Conversation. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. doi:10.64628/aap.q36qxhduk
A piece in The Conversation's French-language (Canada) edition by a Canadian QAnon researcher on Facebook's October 2020 ban on QAnon content. It argues that the ban is not enough to contain conspiracy theories.
BibTeX
@misc{argentino2020qanon, author = {Argentino, Marc-André}, title = {{QAnon est banni de Facebook, mais la bataille contre les théories du complot n'est pas gagnée}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, publisher = {The Conversation Media Group Ltd}, doi = {10.64628/aap.q36qxhduk}, date = {2020-10-20}, langid = {french} } -
BBC Reality Check (2020-07-22). What is QAnon?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/53498434
Explainer published when Twitter first cracked down on QAnon, later updated as 'QAnon: What is it and where did it come from?'.
BibTeX
@misc{bbc2020what, author = {BBC Reality Check}, title = {{What is QAnon?}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {BBC News}, url = {https://www.bbc.com/news/53498434}, date = {2020-07-22}, langid = {english} } -
Greenwood, S. (2020-09-25). How QAnon conspiracy theory memes are spreading on Facebook in the UK. The Conversation. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. doi:10.64628/ab.pfxeys67p
A piece by a British academic on how QAnon memes circulate on Facebook in the United Kingdom. It describes the ordinary users who share this content.
BibTeX
@misc{greenwood2020how, author = {Greenwood, Sue}, title = {{How QAnon conspiracy theory memes are spreading on Facebook in the UK}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, publisher = {The Conversation Media Group Ltd}, doi = {10.64628/ab.pfxeys67p}, date = {2020-09-25}, langid = {english} } -
Kovac, A. (2020-11-03). How Canada became one of the world's biggest hubs for QAnon conspiracy theories. CTV News Montreal. https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/how-canada-became-one-of-the-…
An article on Canada's place, and Québec's in particular, among QAnon's main hubs outside the United States. It shows how the narratives were adapted to local political and public-health figures and how Québec content reached French-speaking Europe.
BibTeX
@misc{kovac2020how, author = {Kovac, Adam}, title = {{How Canada became one of the world's biggest hubs for QAnon conspiracy theories}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {CTV News Montreal}, url = {https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/how-canada-became-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-hubs-for-qanon-conspiracy-theories/}, date = {2020-11-03}, langid = {english} } -
LaFrance, A. (2020-05-14). The Prophecies of Q. The Atlantic (June 2020 issue). https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/qanon-nothing-ca…
Long-form feature describing QAnon as an emerging quasi-religious movement built on prophecy, and assessing its political reach.
BibTeX
@misc{lafrance2020prophecies, author = {LaFrance, Adrienne}, title = {{The Prophecies of Q}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {The Atlantic (June 2020 issue)}, url = {https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/qanon-nothing-can-stop-what-is-coming/610567/}, date = {2020-05-14}, langid = {english} } -
Leloup, D. & Brandy, G. (2020-10-14). QAnon : aux racines de la théorie conspirationniste qui contamine l'Amérique. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2020/10/14/qanon-aux-racines-de…
Investigation into QAnon's origins and its resurgence during the pandemic, to the point of winning over Republican congressional candidates.
BibTeX
@misc{leloup2020qanon, author = {Leloup, Damien and Brandy, Grégor}, title = {{QAnon : aux racines de la théorie conspirationniste qui contamine l'Amérique}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Le Monde}, url = {https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2020/10/14/qanon-aux-racines-de-la-theorie-conspirationniste-qui-contamine-l-amerique_6055921_4408996.html}, date = {2020-10-14}, langid = {french} } -
Leloup, D. & Brandy, G. (2020-10-14). En France, la mouvance conspirationniste QAnon gagne des adeptes. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2020/10/14/en-france-la-mouvanc…
An article by Le Monde's Pixels desk on the growth of the QAnon movement in France in autumn 2020. It appeared the same day as Le Monde's long read on the movement's American roots.
BibTeX
@misc{leloup2020france, author = {Leloup, Damien and Brandy, Grégor}, title = {{En France, la mouvance conspirationniste QAnon gagne des adeptes}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Le Monde}, url = {https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2020/10/14/en-france-la-mouvance-conspirationniste-qanon-gagne-des-adeptes_6055916_4408996.html}, date = {2020-10-14}, langid = {french} } -
Montpetit, J. (2020-09-12). Anti-mask protest in Montreal draws large crowd, propelled by U.S. conspiracy theories. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/anti-mask-protest-montreal-1.…
A CBC report on a protest by several thousand people in Montreal against the Quebec government's COVID-19 measures, one of the largest to date. The article highlights the role of US-born conspiracy theories, including QAnon symbols, in the movement.
BibTeX
@misc{montpetit2020anti, author = {Montpetit, Jonathan}, title = {{Anti-mask protest in Montreal draws large crowd, propelled by U.S. conspiracy theories}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {CBC News}, url = {https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/anti-mask-protest-montreal-1.5722033}, date = {2020-09-12}, langid = {english} } -
Montpetit, J. (2020-10-15). Quebec conspiracy theorist kicked off YouTube for spreading COVID-19 misinformation. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/youtube-radio-qu%C3%A9bec-qan…
CBC reports YouTube's removal of the Radio-Québec channel, one of the main French-language QAnon relays, for repeated violations of its COVID-19 misinformation rules. Facebook had earlier removed the associated accounts over their QAnon ties.
BibTeX
@misc{montpetit2020quebec, author = {Montpetit, Jonathan}, title = {{Quebec conspiracy theorist kicked off YouTube for spreading COVID-19 misinformation}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {CBC News}, url = {https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/youtube-radio-qu%C3%A9bec-qanon-1.5763413}, date = {2020-10-15}, langid = {english} } -
NOS (2020-11-03). Twitter verwijdert negentig Nederlandse QAnon-accounts. NOS. https://nos.nl/artikel/2355035-twitter-verwijdert-negentig-nederlands…
An article by the Dutch public broadcaster on Twitter's removal of about ninety Dutch QAnon-linked accounts. It gives an order of magnitude for the movement's presence in the Netherlands.
BibTeX
@misc{nos2020twitter, author = {NOS}, title = {{Twitter verwijdert negentig Nederlandse QAnon-accounts}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {NOS}, url = {https://nos.nl/artikel/2355035-twitter-verwijdert-negentig-nederlandse-qanon-accounts}, date = {2020-11-03}, langid = {dutch} } -
Nalon, T. (2020-09-08). Como a narrativa QAnon pode moldar o discurso político no Brasil. Aos Fatos. https://www.aosfatos.org/noticias/como-narrativa-qanon-pode-moldar-o-…
An analysis by Brazilian fact-checking outlet Aos Fatos of QAnon relays within Brazil's political ecosystem, including accounts followed by the then-president. It considers how the narrative could shape political discourse and election campaigns.
BibTeX
@misc{nalon2020como, author = {Nalon, Tai}, title = {{Como a narrativa QAnon pode moldar o discurso político no Brasil}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Aos Fatos}, url = {https://www.aosfatos.org/noticias/como-narrativa-qanon-pode-moldar-o-discurso-politico-no-brasil/}, date = {2020-09-08}, langid = {portuguese} } -
Paris Match Belgique (2020-10-30). "La mouvance QAnon a eu une véritable accélération du fait de Donald Trump". Paris Match Belgique. https://www.parismatch.be/actualites/societe/2020/10/30/la-mouvance-q…
An interview with digital-culture specialist Tristan Mendès France, conducted for Paris Match and republished by its Belgian edition. He attributes QAnon's growth to Donald Trump's shares, social media algorithms, its spread to Canada and Europe, and the pandemic.
BibTeX
@misc{parismatch2020mouvance, author = {Paris Match Belgique}, title = {{"La mouvance QAnon a eu une véritable accélération du fait de Donald Trump"}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Paris Match Belgique}, url = {https://www.parismatch.be/actualites/societe/2020/10/30/la-mouvance-qanon-a-eu-une-veritable-acceleration-du-fait-de-donald-trump-JX72VU3IHRHIXMIQHB5CUQSBX4/}, date = {2020-10-30}, langid = {french} } -
Pezet, J. & Nass, C. L. (2020-10-10). En France aussi, la chasse à QAnon est ouverte. Libération. https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/10/10/en-france-aussi-la-chasse…
A Libération article on Facebook and Instagram's decision to remove all QAnon propaganda, even non-violent. It examines the effects on the movement, which had begun to take root in France.
BibTeX
@misc{pezet2020france, author = {Pezet, Jacques and Nass, Claire-Line}, title = {{En France aussi, la chasse à QAnon est ouverte}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Libération}, url = {https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/10/10/en-france-aussi-la-chasse-a-qanon-est-ouverte_1801907}, date = {2020-10-10}, langid = {french} } -
Ross, K. (2020-08-24). Why QAnon is attracting so many followers in Australia — and how it can be countered. The Conversation. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. doi:10.64628/aa.d3vt63v9h
An analysis piece by an Australian researcher on QAnon's following in Australia. It also suggests ways to counter its spread.
BibTeX
@misc{ross2020why, author = {Ross, Kaz}, title = {{Why QAnon is attracting so many followers in Australia — and how it can be countered}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {The Conversation}, publisher = {The Conversation Media Group Ltd}, doi = {10.64628/aa.d3vt63v9h}, date = {2020-08-24}, langid = {english} } -
Sauvage, G. (2020-10-15). La mouvance complotiste QAnon essaime en Europe sur fond de crise du Covid-19. France 24. https://www.france24.com/fr/europe/20201015-la-mouvance-complotiste-q…
Article on QAnon's spread across Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy) during the COVID-19 crisis and its adaptation to local contexts.
BibTeX
@misc{sauvage2020mouvance, author = {Sauvage, Grégoire}, title = {{La mouvance complotiste QAnon essaime en Europe sur fond de crise du Covid-19}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {France 24}, url = {https://www.france24.com/fr/europe/20201015-la-mouvance-complotiste-qanon-essaime-en-europe-sur-fond-de-crise-du-covid-19}, date = {2020-10-15}, langid = {french} } -
Thévenet, E. (2020-11-26). Et si le mouvement complotiste américain QAnon était une fanfiction ?. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2020/11/26/et-si-le-mouvement-c…
Le Monde books-section article on the hypothesis that QAnon was inspired by the 1999 novel 'Q' by the Italian collective Luther Blissett, and on the hoax culture of anonymous boards. The hypothesis is discussed, not demonstrated.
BibTeX
@misc{thevenet2020fanfiction, author = {Thévenet, Elisa}, title = {{Et si le mouvement complotiste américain QAnon était une fanfiction ?}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Le Monde}, url = {https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2020/11/26/et-si-le-mouvement-complotiste-americain-qanon-etait-une-fanfiction_6061172_3260.html}, date = {2020-11-26}, langid = {french} } -
Wu Ming 1 (2020-10-01). Le monde de QAnon. Première partie. Le Grand Continent. https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2020/10/01/le-monde-de-qanon-1/
Essay (translated from Italian) describing QAnon and arguing for the term 'conspiracy fantasy' rather than 'conspiracy theory'.
BibTeX
@misc{wuming2020monde, author = {Wu Ming 1}, title = {{Le monde de QAnon. Première partie}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Le Grand Continent}, url = {https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2020/10/01/le-monde-de-qanon-1/}, date = {2020-10-01}, langid = {french} } -
Rothschild, M. (2018-07-04). Q Anon jargon, explained. The Daily Dot. https://dailydot.com/q-anon-jargon-explained
Early glossary of the vocabulary used by Q and followers (drops, The Storm, Q Clearance, comms, future proves past, news unlocks map, Mockingbird, etc.).
BibTeX
@misc{rothschild2018qanon, author = {Rothschild, Mike}, title = {{Q Anon jargon, explained}}, year = {2018}, howpublished = {The Daily Dot}, url = {https://dailydot.com/q-anon-jargon-explained}, date = {2018-07-04}, langid = {english} } -
Zadrozny, B. & Collins, B. (2018-08-14). How three conspiracy theorists took 'Q' and sparked Qanon. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/how-three-conspiracy-theorists…
Investigation tracing Q's early promotion by three people (two 4chan moderators, including Paul Furber, and YouTuber Tracy Diaz) in November 2017, and their move to Reddit and YouTube.
BibTeX
@misc{zadrozny2018how, author = {Zadrozny, Brandy and Collins, Ben}, title = {{How three conspiracy theorists took 'Q' and sparked Qanon}}, year = {2018}, howpublished = {NBC News}, url = {https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/how-three-conspiracy-theorists-took-q-sparked-qanon-n900531}, date = {2018-08-14}, langid = {english} } -
Conspiracy Watch (s.d.). Léonard Sojli. Conspiracy Watch – L'Observatoire du conspirationnisme. https://www.conspiracywatch.info/notice/leonard-sojli
Continuously updated profile of the founder of the outlet Les DéQodeurs, described as one of the leading figures of French-language QAnon; it traces his trajectory and statements since 2020, with sources.
BibTeX
@misc{conspiracywatchsojli, author = {Conspiracy Watch}, title = {{Léonard Sojli}}, howpublished = {Conspiracy Watch – L'Observatoire du conspirationnisme}, url = {https://www.conspiracywatch.info/notice/leonard-sojli}, langid = {french} } -
Hoback, C. (2021-03-21). Q: Into the Storm. HBO. https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/hbo-0/q-storm/hbos-q-storm-six…
Six-part documentary series (aired 21 March - 4 April 2021) filmed over about three years with access to Jim and Ron Watkins (8chan/8kun) and Fredrick Brennan, among others.
BibTeX
@misc{hoback2021q, author = {Hoback, Cullen}, title = {{Q: Into the Storm}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {HBO}, url = {https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/hbo-0/q-storm/hbos-q-storm-six-part-documentary-series-exploring-origins-qanon-debuts-march-21-0}, date = {2021-03-21}, langid = {english} } -
Ruest, N. (2025). #WWG1WGA tweets. Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.17081126
IDs, hashtags and user metadata for 2,277,298 tweets containing #WWG1WGA, collected in October 2022 via Twitter's academic API (from October 2017).
BibTeX
@misc{ruest2025wwg1wga, author = {Ruest, Nick}, title = {{\#WWG1WGA tweets}}, year = {2025}, howpublished = {Zenodo}, doi = {10.5281/zenodo.17081126}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17081126}, langid = {english} } -
Mekacher, A. & Papasavva, A. (2022). "I Can't Keep It Up." A Dataset from the Defunct Voat.co News Aggregator. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 16, 1302-1311. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19382
Data paper releasing the archive of Voat, an aggregator shut down in December 2020 that hosted QAnon communities after the Reddit bans; data on Zenodo (doi 10.5281/zenodo.5841668).
BibTeX
@misc{mekacher2022cant, author = {Mekacher, Amin and Papasavva, Antonis}, title = {{"I Can't Keep It Up." A Dataset from the Defunct Voat.co News Aggregator}}, year = {2022}, howpublished = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {16}, pages = {1302--1311}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19382}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v16i1.19382}, langid = {english} } -
Aliapoulios, M., Bevensee, E., Blackburn, J., Bradlyn, B., De Cristofaro, E., Stringhini, G., et al. (2021). A Large Open Dataset from the Parler Social Network. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 15, 943-951. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v15i1.18117
Data paper releasing a large corpus of Parler posts and user profiles; the data are deposited on Zenodo (doi 10.5281/zenodo.4442460).
BibTeX
@misc{aliapoulios2021large, author = {Aliapoulios, Max and Bevensee, Emmi and Blackburn, Jeremy and Bradlyn, Barry and De Cristofaro, Emiliano and Stringhini, Gianluca and Zannettou, Savvas}, title = {{A Large Open Dataset from the Parler Social Network}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {15}, pages = {943--951}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v15i1.18117}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v15i1.18117}, langid = {english} } -
CodeBreaker619 (2021). Donald Trump Tweets Dataset. Kaggle. https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/codebreaker619/donald-trump-tweets-dataset
Dataset of Donald Trump's tweets up to 8 January 2021, used by this project to compare the timelines of drops and tweets.
BibTeX
@misc{codebreaker2021donald, author = {CodeBreaker619}, title = {{Donald Trump Tweets Dataset}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Kaggle}, url = {https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/codebreaker619/donald-trump-tweets-dataset}, langid = {english} } -
Jensen, M. & Kane, S. (2021-09-24). QAnon Crime Maps. National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), University of Maryland. https://www.start.umd.edu/data-tools/qanon-crime-maps
Interactive tool with two maps: crimes committed in the United States since 2016 by people motivated wholly or partly by QAnon or Pizzagate (location, motive, outcome), and arrests of QAnon followers charged over the 6 January 2021 Capitol breach. Inclusion requires an arrest, indictment or death and public-source evidence of the link; defendants are presumed innocent.
BibTeX
@misc{start2021crimemaps, author = {Jensen, Michael and Kane, Sheehan}, title = {{QAnon Crime Maps}}, year = {2021}, publisher = {National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), University of Maryland}, url = {https://www.start.umd.edu/data-tools/qanon-crime-maps}, date = {2021-09-24}, langid = {english} } -
Kingsman, J. (2021). QAnon Posts Dataset (JSON-QAnon). Kaggle / GitHub. https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/jkingsman/qanondrops
Machine-readable corpus of the Q drops and the posts they reference, compiled from several archives up to the last drop on 27 November 2022 (CC BY 4.0); the author makes no data-integrity guarantee. Mirror: github.com/jkingsman/JSON-QAnon. Main source for this project.
BibTeX
@misc{kingsman2021qanon, author = {Kingsman, Jack}, title = {{QAnon Posts Dataset (JSON-QAnon)}}, year = {2021}, howpublished = {Kaggle / GitHub}, url = {https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/jkingsman/qanondrops}, langid = {english} } -
Thomas, W. (2021). German QAnon Telegram Dataset. figshare. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.16879513
A dataset of public Telegram channels devoted to German-language QAnon discussions, from each channel's creation to 1 July 2021. Channels were selected by snowballing from three seed channels, keeping the most frequently forwarded-from sources.
BibTeX
@misc{thomas2021german, author = {Thomas, W.F.}, title = {{German QAnon Telegram Dataset}}, year = {2021}, publisher = {figshare}, doi = {10.6084/m9.figshare.16879513}, url = {https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/German_QAnon_Telegram_Dataset/16879513}, langid = {english} } -
Baumgartner, J., Zannettou, S., Keegan, B., Squire, M. & Blackburn, J. (2020). The Pushshift Reddit Dataset. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 14, 830-839. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7347
Data paper describing the Pushshift archive of Reddit submissions and comments, the source of many studies of Reddit's QAnon communities before their 2018 ban.
BibTeX
@misc{baumgartner2020pushshift, author = {Baumgartner, Jason and Zannettou, Savvas and Keegan, Brian and Squire, Megan and Blackburn, Jeremy}, title = {{The Pushshift Reddit Dataset}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {14}, pages = {830--839}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7347}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7347}, langid = {english} } -
Hagen, S., Peeters, S., Jokubauskaitė, E. & de Zeeuw, D. (2020). Cross-platform mentions of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3758479
Dataset (CC BY 4.0) of QAnon mentions on 4chan, 8chan and other platforms between 28 October 2017 and 1 November 2018, used in 'Tracing normiefication'.
BibTeX
@misc{hagen2020cross, author = {Hagen, Sal and Peeters, Stijn and Jokubauskaitė, Emilija and de Zeeuw, Daniël}, title = {{Cross-platform mentions of the QAnon conspiracy theory}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Zenodo}, doi = {10.5281/zenodo.3758479}, url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3758479}, langid = {english} } -
Papasavva, A., Zannettou, S., De Cristofaro, E., Stringhini, G. & Blackburn, J. (2020-05-26). Raiders of the Lost Kek: 3.5 Years of Augmented 4chan Posts from the Politically Incorrect Board. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 14. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). doi:10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7354
Public dataset of over 3.3M threads and 134.5M posts from 4chan's /pol/ board (June 2016-November 2019), a period covering Q's appearance in October 2017, augmented with toxicity scores and named entities. It preserves posts permanently deleted from 4chan and otherwise inaccessible.
BibTeX
@misc{papasavva2020raiders, author = {Papasavva, Antonis and Zannettou, Savvas and De Cristofaro, Emiliano and Stringhini, Gianluca and Blackburn, Jeremy}, title = {{Raiders of the Lost Kek: 3.5 Years of Augmented 4chan Posts from the Politically Incorrect Board}}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {14}, publisher = {Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7354}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7354}, date = {2020-05-26}, langid = {english} } -
Fair, G. & Wesslen, R. (2019). Shouting into the Void: A Database of the Alternative Social Media Platform Gab. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 13, 608-610. doi:10.1609/icwsm.v13i01.3258
Data paper presenting a database of posts from Gab, an alternative platform popular with the far right and QAnon followers.
BibTeX
@misc{fair2019shouting, author = {Fair, Gabriel and Wesslen, Ryan}, title = {{Shouting into the Void: A Database of the Alternative Social Media Platform Gab}}, year = {2019}, howpublished = {Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media}, volume = {13}, pages = {608--610}, doi = {10.1609/icwsm.v13i01.3258}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v13i01.3258}, langid = {english} } -
The GDELT Project (s.d.). GDELT Event Database. https://www.gdeltproject.org/
Open database of events extracted from world news coverage, used by this project (daily event files) to place the drops in their news context.
BibTeX
@misc{gdeltproject, author = {The GDELT Project}, title = {{GDELT Event Database}}, url = {https://www.gdeltproject.org/}, langid = {english} } -
Trump Twitter Archive (s.d.). Trump Twitter Archive. https://www.thetrumparchive.com/
Searchable and downloadable archive of Donald Trump's tweets, useful for comparing drops with presidential messages.
BibTeX
@misc{trumptwitterarchive, author = {Trump Twitter Archive}, title = {{Trump Twitter Archive}}, url = {https://www.thetrumparchive.com/}, langid = {english} } -
Wikimedia Foundation (s.d.). Wikimedia Analytics API: Pageviews. https://doc.wikimedia.org/generated-data-platform/aqs/analytics-api/
Public API for Wikipedia article view statistics, used by this project as a proxy for public attention to QAnon.
BibTeX
@misc{wikimediapageviews, author = {Wikimedia Foundation}, title = {{Wikimedia Analytics API: Pageviews}}, url = {https://doc.wikimedia.org/generated-data-platform/aqs/analytics-api/}, langid = {english} }