Chapter 1: Seeing the Hidden Pandemic

In the spring of 2020, the world watched a new virus spread with terrifying speed. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were everywhere, in empty streets, crowded hospitals, and daily death counts on the news. The crisis was visible, measurable, and widely acknowledged. Yet, alongside this health emergency, another form of contagion was quietly taking hold. This was not a crisis of the body, but a crisis of belief and one that travelled through digital platforms, across borders, and into homes around the world. It polarised communities, eroded trust, and left thousands of people grieving someone who was still alive. This is the hidden pandemic of the QAnon conspiracy movement.