During my time as a student in communications, I have grown fascinated by social media in many different ways. The addictive nature of different types of social media, the impact social media has on the way people think and act, and the way that information can spread like wildfire on social media are all things that continue to shock and amaze me. All of these traits of social media have only been exacerbated with the immersion of short-form video platforms. 

My experience on social media has also encouraged me to learn more about this topic. I have experienced the addictive nature of many platforms, and I have seen the presence of many conspiracy theories online. I credit my education in communication to be the reason that I am able to identify misinformation and conspiracy theories online, and this is an ability that I believe is very important for everyone to have. 

This, along with my fascination with conspiracy theories and those who swear by them, has culminated in the creation of my research topic.