Plandemic, a 26-minute trailer video about coronavirus conspiracy theories, went viral in May 2020 because of distributed amplification. In response to its high viewership, major social media platforms moderated Plandemic and prepared for the full-length video. The platforms’ efforts slowed the spread of Indoctornation, the anticipated 75-minute movie. Indoctornation failed to achieve the virality Plandemic had.
STAGE 1: Manipulation Campaign Planning and Origins
On May 4, a little over month into the COVID-19 crisis hitting the US, a 26-minute video trailer called Plandemic hit all the major social media platforms in a coordinated launch. With high production quality, Plandemic teased an upcoming full-length film, but stood on its own as a product of planned disinformation. By misquoting physicians and researchers and by citing conspiracy theorists, Plandemic argued that the coronavirus was planned, vaccines are harmful, masks “activate” coronavirus, and that the ocean has “healing microbes.” In short, it sought to sow doubt and discredit the scientific and medical community.
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Source: Distributed Amplification: The Plandemic Documentary | Media Manipulation Casebook