The best way to learn to spot a conspiracy theory is to make one yourself.
Pick a real news story. On the next step you'll choose who's behind it and why. Then walk through the four moves real conspiracists use, with a debunk on every step.
Choose whichever real-feeling headline your imagination will run wildest with. Don't overthink it.

Mick Jagger, the longtime frontman of the Rolling Stones, has been sharing unexpectedly ordinary moments from his tour life on Instagram. Instead of the usual glamorous or staged celebrity photos, his feed shows mundane outings—visits to local attractions, bars, strip malls and well‑known landmarks. He told The Washington Post that these images are less about spectacle and more about getting a feel for places, and he treats the account like a simple visual diary.

China's Chang'e-4 lander touched down on the Moon's far side in January 2019. Using instruments including ground-penetrating radar, the mission collected subsurface profiles near its landing site. A team writing in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets reports the top roughly 130 feet (about 40 metres) of the surface is layered—alternating dust, soil and broken rock—and that a buried impact crater lies within those layers.

Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, widely regarded as the world’s oldest zoological garden, has announced the birth of three endangered megabats. The newborns—large flying foxes—were filmed clinging to and cuddling with their mother and beginning to explore a newly opened rainforest-style enclosure. Zoo staff released video of the youngsters playing and climbing while keepers monitor their health and development as part of routine postnatal care.

In 2023, businesses and creators faced a crowded online environment where standing out required more content without losing quality. A Forbes article outlines practical tactics to increase output: use AI tools for image creation, conduct batch keyword research, write concise pieces, repurpose existing material, and publish across multiple channels. The aim is to publish more consistently while keeping useful information and audience needs central to each piece.