If only it was easy cat memes that are the problem. The attraction for much of these beliefs is a feeling of superiority, having access to secret abstruse knowledge etc.

The conspiracy theorist is not that different from the ivory tower academic!

Their theories are not simple but filled with head spinning and contradictory minutiae (just like a social science paper!)

I prefer to take the acknowledged ignorance approach. I have no idea what the outcome of the rise of the internet will be.