Conspiracy Theories, Social Media, and Trust in Institutions in Three Central European Countries
Conspiracy Theories, Social Media, and Trust in Institutions in Three Central European Countries

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between belief in conspiracy theories, social media use, and institutional trust in three Central European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. Using multilinear regression analysis, the study shows that both social media use and a lack of trust in state institutions contribute to belief in conspiracy theories. However, the relationship between trust in political institutions and belief in conspiracy theories varies depending on the local political context. The interactional effect of social media use and institutional trust was not significant. The study emphasizes the importance of the local sociopolitical context in understanding the spread of conspiracy theories.

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