Date of Award
Spring 2026
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Academic Program
Political Science BA
Department
Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs
First Advisor
Dr. Marek Steedman
Second Advisor
Dr. Kayla Stan
Advisor Department
Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs; Geography and Geology
Abstract
This study examines how conspiracy-related content spread across social media platforms following the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, specifically the “Stop the Steal” (STS) movement. While conspiracy theories are often seen as influential on niche parts of the internet, less is known about how they compare to non-conspiracy content in terms of engagement, visibility, and how they change over time. To address this gap, this study uses a quantitative approach to compare STS and non-STS content across two distinct types of social media platforms: a text-based platform (Platform A) and a video-sharing platform (Platform B). Data was collected using keyword searches between November 2020 and February 2021, then analyzed at an overall aggregate level rather than focusing on individual users. Engagement was measured using platform-specific metrics, with Platform A using reblogs, favorites, and replies and with Platform B using views, likes, and comments. Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used to compare differences between groups because social media data are often unevenly distributed. The results show that STS content did not make up a substantial portion of overall activity on either platform; however, it showed different patterns depending on the platform. On Platform A, STS posts received more reblogs and favorites but fewer replies, suggesting that users were more likely to share the content than discuss it. On Platform B, STS videos received fewer views than non-STS videos and did not differ much in likes or comments, showing lower overall visibility.
Copyright
Copyright for this thesis is owned by the author. It may be freely accessed by all users. However, any reuse or reproduction not covered by the exceptions of the Fair Use or Educational Use clauses of U.S. Copyright Law or without permission of the copyright holder may be a violation of federal law. Contact the administrator if you have additional questions.
Recommended Citation
Saleem, Zaynab, "The Spread of Conspiracy Theories and Social Media Radicalization: “Stop the Steal” on Social Media" (2026). Honors Theses. 1104.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/1104
Comments
Blanket Permission for Future Readers: Uncertain, please contact me with future requests at the following NON-USM email address: saleemelena7@gmail.com