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Why Conspiracy Theories Take Off Online

We look at why conspiracy theories thrive on social media. Also, the school with a 100% graduation rate, where students can get only one of two grades.

Some conspiracy theories spread like wildfire online, despite the truth really being out there (and easily searchable). What makes people continue to share conspiracies?

And, after a video showing 16-year-old Ayrton Little from Louisiana getting accepted into Harvard University went viral, we take an in-depth look at the school where he studied. It has 100% graduation rate and students can only get one of two grades: “A” or “F”.

Presenter: Jonathan Griffin
Producer: Anisa Subedar

(Photo: A plane flying in the sky. Credit: Getty Images)

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23 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 Jan 201804:06GMT
BBC World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only

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  • Fri 26 Jan 201820:06GMT
    BBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview & Europe and the Middle East only
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  • Sun 28 Jan 201810:32GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Mon 29 Jan 201802:32GMT
    BBC World Service West and Central Africa
  • Mon 29 Jan 201804:06GMT
    BBC World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only

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    In-depth reporting on the world of social media