The Onion recently made headlines with its purchase of the conspiracy-theory-saturated media empire Infowars at a bankruptcy auction tied to lawsuits by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. The move, aimed at fighting falsehoods with humor, was unexpected but real. The Onion shut down Infowars immediately and plans to relaunch it in January as a parody of conspiracy theorists. The purchase was backed by Sandy Hook families who were awarded nearly $1.5 billion in lawsuits against Alex Jones, the founder of Infowars, for spreading false claims about the shooting.
The new Infowars will satirize the theories advanced by Alex Jones, with the goal of becoming known as the funniest and dumbest website on the internet. The move marks the end of a chapter in a loose network of fear-based media content creators that keep people perpetually provoked and enraged. By bringing humor back to the internet, the Onion hopes to offset years of doomscrolling and misinformation. The relaunch of Infowars will be led by Ben Collins, the CEO of the Onion, who has a background in covering misinformation for NBC News.
Conspiracy theories about the Onion’s purchase of Infowars have already started circulating online, with some questioning the real motives behind the acquisition. Despite the shutdown of Infowars, experts believe that Alex Jones will quickly find new outlets and his dedicated fans will continue to follow him. The impact of shutting down a prominent misinformation website may be temporary, as the business model of reaching people who seek outrage is still viable. The controversial move by the Onion brought a moment of satisfaction to liberals amidst a challenging political landscape in the US.
The purchase of Infowars by the Onion marks a unique and unexpected development in the media landscape, where satire is being used to combat misinformation. The move reflects a growing trend of using humor to address serious issues and push back against false narratives. While some conspiracy theorists may see the shutdown of Infowars as an attack on free speech, others view it as a necessary step to curb the spread of harmful misinformation. As the Onion prepares to relaunch Infowars in a satirical manner, it remains to be seen how this new direction will impact the broader conversation around conspiracy theories and media manipulation.
