Instagram is rife with posts promoting the extremist QAnon conspiracy theory, while other social media platforms have recognized its danger and taken action to reduce its spread. In a new study, Media Matters reviewed a small fraction of Instagram posts related to QAnon and its slogan and found that they earned millions of interactions while spreading the conspiracy theory on the platform.
On July 21, Twitter announced that it had taken down more than 7,000 accounts connected to the QAnon conspiracy theory, which revolves around an anonymous account known as “Q.” Additionally, reports indicate that the social media platform plans to “stop recommending accounts and content related to QAnon, including material in email and follow recommendations, and it will take steps to limit circulation of content in features like trends and search.”
Twitter’s action comes as in response to the growing threat of the QAnon conspiracy theory: It’s been tied to acts of violence, including multiple murders and attempted kidnappings; it’s been listed as a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI; and it’s rooted itself in American politics, with President Donald Trump amplifying QAnon supporters and at least 68 current or former congressional candidates embracing it. The fringe conspiracy theory centers on the belief that Trump was working with then-special counsel Robert Mueller to take down the president’s perceived enemies in the “deep state,” which it claims is filled with elites who are pedophiles and devil-worshippers.
Disinformation researchers lauded Twitter for its actions against QAnon accounts and content but quickly pointed out that the conspiracy theory also thrives on other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. In fact, following Twitter’s announcement, Media Matters found that Facebook profited off of at least 144 ads promoting QAnon that ran on Facebook or Instagram since 2019, and our latest study underscores a bigger problem on Instagram.
There are at least 1.19 million posts on Instagram tagged with the hashtag "#QAnon" and at least 1.17 million posts tagged with the hashtag "#wwg1wga" (short for “where we go one, we go all”), which is QAnon’s de facto slogan. Posts tagged with one of these hashtags promote and support the conspiracy theory, frequently offering pro-Trump sentiments, while attacking Democrats generally, among other things.
Media Matters reviewed a small number of the posts tagged with either hashtag -- nearly 4,800 posts from 24 public Instagram accounts that promote QAnon and have over 10,000 followers -- and found that they earned a total of over 8.1 million interactions (likes, comments, shares) on Instagram between 4:15 p.m. EDT June 27, 2020, and 4:15 p.m. EDT July 27, 2020. Notably, an account with the username @qthewakeup earned nearly 2.9 million interactions on its 529 posts during this time, and the account @redpillbabe earned over 1 million interactions on its 234 posts. One of the other accounts promoting QAnon, @educatingliberals, was suspended from Twitter in April and is known for spreading COVID-19 misinformation and using anti-Semitic language.
Of the posts Media Matters reviewed, a post from @qthewakeup earned the most engagement, with over 204,000 interactions. The post promoted a debunked conspiracy theory accusing online retailer Wayfair of being involved with human trafficking. Instagram labeled the post “partly false information” but has not taken any further action. This account also contributed to the spread of a viral video promoting dangerous misinformation about COVID-19.
