Disinformation preys on uncertainty, amplifying both fear and futility to shape public behaviour in destructive ways. Collapse narratives, whether about climate, economy, or societal breakdown, distort real concerns into extreme conclusions. These narratives drive people toward two destabilizing outcomes: political disengagement, where a sense of hopelessness leads to withdrawal from civic life, or radicalization, where despair fuels alignment with extreme movements that reject democratic norms altogether.

At Ripple Research, we're studying the systematic undermining of institutional trust, and how ‘doomerism’ is manufactured through damaging narratives. Our research examines how these narratives emerge and spread - the underlying conditions, information voids, and coordinated tactics that manufacture disengagement. Understanding these patterns is crucial for institutions seeking to maintain public trust and combat democratic erosion.