Viral Narratives: 2024’s Most Talked-About Conspiracies

2024 has become a breeding ground for conspiracy theories fueled by viral narratives, political polarization, and the ever-growing amplification of social media. From natural disasters to drone sightings, these stories illustrate how deceptive narratives can shape public perception and spark widespread debate.

Using insights from PeakMetrics, let’s count down some of the year’s most talked-about conspiracy narratives.

7. Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Cyberattack Speculation (March 26)

When a cargo ship struck a support column of a Baltimore bridge on March 26, causing its collapse and the deaths of six construction workers, conspiracy theories immediately followed. Claims included that the ship was hacked by foreign agents or that Covid-era lockdowns had somehow contributed to the disaster. Influencer Andrew Tate falsely suggested the event was the result of a cyberattack, while others speculated about links to immigration and drug trafficking. PeakMetrics tracked over 154,000 X posts related to these narratives, with activity spiking at 49,000 posts on March 26. Despite the spread of these claims, no evidence has supported these conspiracy theories.

6. Boeing Whistleblower Deaths: Silencing Accusations (March–April)

The deaths of two Boeing whistleblowers, John Barnett and Joshua Dean, in 2024 fueled conspiracy theories alleging retaliation and cover-ups. These narratives gained traction in March and April, with terms like “silenced,” “not suicide,” and “murdered” becoming central to online discussions. Since March, there have been 578,000 posts on X about these theories, peaking at 141,000 posts on March 12. The persistent spread of these narratives highlights the public’s appetite for speculation about corporate secrecy and accountability.

5. Kate Middleton Conspiracy: Health and Identity (January–March)

Rumors about Kate Middleton’s health and identity gripped the internet in early 2024. Following an announcement from Kensington Palace in January that the Princess of Wales was recovering from abdominal surgery, online speculation spiraled into claims that she was missing, in a coma, or even replaced by a body double. Nearly 900K posts on X have been around Kate Middleton's health and identity conspiracies since January. Posts spiked on February 26 with 39,000 mentions and peaked again on March 18 with 69,000 posts, coinciding with a video where Middleton revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer. Conspiracy theories persisted through the year, with some questioning the authenticity of her illness in November.

4. Weather Control Conspiracy Theories: Hurricane Milton (October 9)

In October 2024, Hurricane Milton became the center of a storm of conspiracy theories as it approached Florida. Speculation online claimed that the hurricane was geoengineered, with some suggesting it was deliberately created to suppress voter turnout and sway election results. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled the fire, alleging that weather manipulation technologies were at play to influence political outcomes. According to PeakMetrics, over 1.46 million X posts discussed these conspiracies since October 2024, with activity peaking on October 10—the day after Milton made landfall—with 209,000 posts. Experts quickly refuted these claims, emphasizing that there is no scientific evidence to support human control over large-scale weather events.

3. Drone Sightings and Project Blue Beam (November–December)

In November, a surge of mysterious drone sightings across the U.S. East Coast sparked panic and reignited the Project Blue Beam conspiracy, which claims global elites are planning a fake alien invasion. Other theories suggested the drones were scanning for radiation or even represented “Biblically accurate angels.” With over 1.47 million X posts on drone-related conspiracies since November—and a peak of 136,000 posts on December 11—the narrative continues to grow as no explanation for the drones’ origin has been disclosed as of the writing of this piece, fueling ongoing speculation and fear.

2. Trump Assassination Attempt: Second Shooter Theories (July 13)

On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt while speaking at an open-air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident gave rise to numerous conspiracy theories, with claims ranging from the involvement of a second shooter to accusations that Antifa or even foreign governments like China were behind the attack. Since the incident, over 3.4 million X posts have discussed these theories, with activity peaking on July 14—the day after the attempt—with 509,000 posts. A secondary surge occurred on September 16 with 169,000 posts, as new narratives and claims resurfaced. The persistence of these discussions underscores how conspiracy theories can evolve and reignite.

1. Migrants Eating Pets: Trump’s Debate Comment (September 9)

During the September 9th presidential debate, Donald Trump claimed migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets, including cats and dogs. This statement sparked a wave of online discourse linking immigrants, particularly those from Haiti, to claims about consuming pets. Since September 1, there were over 3.54 million X posts about this narrative, with discussions surging to 392,000 posts on September 9 following Trump’s remarks. According to PeakMetrics, the narrative reached its peak two days later, on September 11, with 887,000 posts. While the claims were baseless, they highlighted the power of a single statement to ignite widespread speculation and misinformation.

Conspiracy theories in 2024 reflect the continued interplay between major events, harmful narratives, and online amplification. With millions of posts fueling these narratives, the role of platforms like PeakMetrics in tracking and understanding these trends is more critical than ever. By surfacing and analyzing these conversations, organizations can better prepare to counter false or harmful narratives and respond proactively to emerging threats.