Gen Z’s ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ Conspiracy Taking the Internet by Storm

Have you heard about the controversial conspiracy theory circulating among Gen Z that claims “Birds Aren’t Real”?

While it may sound bizarre at first, this theory has gained traction online and sparked intense debates among believers and skeptics alike.

The rise of the internet and social media has fueled the spread of various conspiracy theories, with young people particularly being drawn to unconventional ideas. From flat Earth to lizard people, Gen Z has shown a fascination with questioning mainstream narratives and seeking alternative explanations for the world around them. This is one of them.

“Birds Aren’t Real” Conspiracy Gains Momentum

Recently, massive billboards in Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Los Angeles have declared, “Birds Aren’t Real.” This slogan has gained significant attention on social media, with Birds Aren’t Real accounts amassing hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok, and related YouTube videos going viral.

Last month, supporters of the Birds Aren’t Real movement protested outside Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco, demanding that the company change its bird logo.

“Birds Aren’t Real”: Gen Z’s Satirical Take on Conspiracy Theories

The Birds Aren’t Real conspiracy theory, popularized by Gen Z, claims that birds are not real but are government-installed drones used for surveillance. This theory has attracted hundreds of thousands of young followers who wear related T-shirts, attend rallies, and promote the slogan.

Unlike QAnon, which is based on unfounded beliefs about a secretive elite, the Birds Aren’t Real movement is actually a joke. The creator and followers are aware that birds are real and that the conspiracy theory is entirely fictional.

Gen Z’s Satirical Conspiracy Theory Blends Humor with Activism

Birds Aren’t Real is a parody social movement designed to challenge and mock misinformation in a post-truth world. Created by Gen Z, it uses absurdism to satirize and combat the proliferation of online conspiracy theories.

Claire Chronis, a 22-year-old Birds Aren’t Real organizer in Pittsburgh, describes the movement as a method to address global issues in a unique way. She likens it to “fighting lunacy with lunacy,” using absurdity to counteract the spread of irrational beliefs.

“Birds Aren’t Real” Conspiracy Creator Peter McIndoe Reveals Parody

Peter McIndoe, a 23-year-old college dropout from Memphis, created the Birds Aren’t Real movement in 2017 on a whim. He spent years maintaining his role as the chief proponent of the fake conspiracy theory, rallying followers against skeptics. Now, McIndoe is ready to reveal that the movement is a parody to prevent any confusion about whether birds are actually drones.

Peter McIndoe explained that while navigating misinformation, he and his team have been careful to keep their claims so absurd that they don’t seem too realistic. This caution is part of their strategy to ensure their parody remains clear, even as they consider revealing their true intentions.

The Gen Z Way of Processing Information

Members of Birds Aren’t Real, including those in the Bird Brigade activism network, often grew up amid widespread misinformation. Additionally, they have relatives affected by conspiracy theories. For Gen Z, the movement offers a way to collectively address these experiences. By role-playing as conspiracy theorists, they find community and solidarity, according to Peter McIndoe.

Peter McIndoe explained that Birds Aren’t Real is not just an external satire of conspiracy theories. It is a reflection of deep-seated feelings within his generation. It serves as a means for people to process and cope with the absurdity they perceive in the current landscape of misinformation.

The Impact of Internet Education

Cameron Kasky, a 21-year-old activist from Parkland, Fla., known for organizing the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence, is also involved in Birds Aren’t Real. He believes the parody provides a moment of humor and relief. It offers a way for people to laugh together during challenging times.

Peter McIndoe grew up in a deeply conservative and religious environment outside Cincinnati and in rural Arkansas. This is where he was home-schooled and taught that concepts like evolution were part of a Democratic conspiracy and that Obama was the Antichrist. His education included books like “Remote Control,” which claimed Hollywood had hidden anti-Christian messages.

In high school, social media introduced him to mainstream culture, and he explored new perspectives through YouTube and Reddit. McIndoe credits the internet with providing much of his real-world education and shaping his understanding of the world.

“Birds Aren’t Real” Conspiracy Origin

By the time Peter McIndoe started at the University of Arkansas in 2016, he realized he wasn’t alone in navigating conflicting realities. In January 2017, during a visit to Memphis and amid the political tensions surrounding Donald Trump’s inauguration and a women’s march, McIndoe spontaneously wrote “Birds Aren’t Real” on a flipped poster. He described it as a spontaneous joke that captured the absurdity of the moment.

Peter McIndoe began improvising the Birds Aren’t Real conspiracy theory, claiming that birds had been replaced by surveillance drones as part of a cover-up starting in the 1970s. He was filmed while doing this, and the video was posted on Facebook. It went viral, particularly among teenagers in the South.

From Graffiti and Stickers to a Detailed Fictional Narrative

In Memphis, “Birds Aren’t Real” graffiti began appearing on chalkboards and walls at local high schools. The phrase also inspired the creation of stickers promoting the idea.

Peter McIndoe embraced the Birds Aren’t Real concept, creating an elaborate fictional world with his friend Connor Gaydos. They invented a detailed history, fabricated theories, and produced fake evidence to support their claims. McIndoe described it as an “experiment in misinformation”. It is where their entirely fictional narrative was reported as fact by local media and scrutinized by the public.

Connor Gaydos noted that if someone believes in the Birds Aren’t Real conspiracy, it likely means they are susceptible to believing in any conspiracy theory. This makes the Birds Aren’t Real movement a minor concern in their broader belief system.

Peter McIndoe Expands “Birds Aren’t Real”

In 2018, Peter McIndoe left college and moved to Memphis to advance the Birds Aren’t Real movement. He created a viral flyer on Reddit and hired an actor to play a former CIA agent who claimed to have worked on bird drone surveillance. This is a video that has over 20 million views on TikTok. McIndoe also employed actors to portray adult bird truthers, leading to widespread video distribution on Instagram.

The same year, Peter McIndoe started selling Birds Aren’t Real merchandise, generating several thousand dollars a month. This revenue supports McIndoe and Connor Gaydos’s living expenses, funds billboards, and covers travel for Bird Brigade members to attend rallies. McIndoe emphasized that all proceeds are used to support the movement and not for any harmful purposes.

Researchers and Activists Weigh in on “Birds Aren’t Real” Conspiracy

Researchers, including Joshua Citarella, believe the potential harms of Peter McIndoe’s Birds Aren’t Real movement are minimal. Citarella views collaborative world-building as a therapeutic way for people to address and defuse conspiratorial thinking safely. McIndoe assures that the movement is designed to avoid negative consequences. It provides a space for people to process and laugh at conspiracy culture rather than being overwhelmed by it.

Heitho Shipp, a 22-year-old from Pittsburgh, finds the Birds Aren’t Real movement cathartic. She sees it as a way to channel pain and frustration. This contrasts it with conspiracy theories driven by hate or distrust. Shipp views the movement as a tool for improving media literacy.

Members of Birds Aren’t Real have become a political force. They are using their irreverent chants to de-escalate tensions and undermine actual conspiracy theorists at protests. For example, they disrupted an anti-abortion rally at the University of Cincinnati by chanting “Birds aren’t real”. This caused the activists to leave. Peter McIndoe plans to break character in 2022 to elevate the movement. He aims to collaborate with major content creators and media to address America’s current state and internet culture. He views their past misinformation as a purposeful reflection of the digital age.

What do you think of the “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy theory?

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