image source, the sun
British newspaper The Sun published a video clip showing Princess Kate Middleton with Prince William at a shop near Windsor Castle.
- author, Mariana Spring
- stock, BBC Counter Disinformation Correspondent
“That can't be Kate! That's her doppelganger!”
The first video I saw on social media this morning was that of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales.
The video – published by British newspaper The Sun last Monday – shows an amateur investigator promoting a false conspiracy theory by claiming that the last photo of the Princess of Wales at a farm shop near Windsor is the last photo of a woman. Like Middleton.
There's no evidence to support this speculation, but it's the latest example of the false conspiracy theories circulating on social media about Kate Middleton's health.
The Princess of Wales' absence from public life since undergoing stomach surgery last January has raised real questions and wild accusations.
The Princess of Kensington Palace is recovering and is expected to return to her public duties after Easter.
This social media craze, to which the media also contributes, can harm family and friends and, more broadly, erode public trust.
Recently, social media saw active conversations about Middleton after a Mother's Day photo of the princess and her children posted on social media by the palace was edited. The princess later apologized for the edited photo, saying she was responsible for editing it.
image source, Prince of Wales
A Mother's Day photo of the princess and her children sparked widespread controversy after it was altered, with photo agencies deciding to ban it.
The latest video clip of the princess shows no signs of being altered or altered in any way, although it has sparked more conspiracy theories and mockery.
Not only did I get recommendations on TikTok for clips about “cat-like” conspiracy theories, but this content appeared on the X app. Both platforms' algorithms push content based on what they think users want to see.
Over time, dozens of videos and other posts promoting the same plot were suggested on both my TikTok and X apps.
According to the social media sites' own data, within 24 hours, the false claims about “Kate's lookalike” received over 12 million views on X and over 11 million views on TikTok.
Who are the users who share these theories?
On the X app, these accounts are mostly based in the US and are dedicated to posting about the Princess of Wales almost 24 hours a day. Many of them are checked with a blue mark indicating that they have been checked. You can now buy a blue verification mark in exchange for your content to gain more popularity and prominence on the social media platform.
I've corresponded with dozens of TikTok users around the world who post videos of Middleton, many of whom have zoomed in and analyzed the Princess of Wales's facial features, comparing them to photos of her in her appearance.
image source, Good pictures
A video clip on the TikTok app about a cat-like theory by an American activist named Esmeralda has garnered 2.9 million views.
Esmeralda told me she had never published material about the royal family but was prompted to do so out of “genuine public interest”.
The American activist says: “I usually try to answer people who make accusations, and generally summarize what has been said, whether I agree with the same theory or not.”
And he adds: “If I find out that there is a certain theory that people don't know about, I have no problem shooting a video in which I say: Hi, this theory has now been debunked, and here's why.”
Gary, a social media enthusiast in Germany who shares the same conspiracy theory, told me he doesn't feel “guilty” about his TikTok posts.
“In my view, the biggest benefit is freedom of expression, and freedom of expression should be allowed on social media,” says Carey.
The media has been accused of repeatedly sharing unsubstantiated conspiracy theories published online. In social media, content is more intense, reaching millions of people, in many cases much larger numbers than traditional media.
Although there is no indication that footage of the princess shopping with her husband was edited in any way, investigators continue to share videos questioning this, leading to millions of views and new followers.
According to TikTok's guidelines, the social media platform “does not allow false or abusive content, regardless of its intent to cause substantial harm to individuals or society.”
The site has previously said it “reduces the range of conspiracy-promoting content” about the royal family and other powerful groups who may be subject to nefarious conspiracies without evidence.
The “X” app did not respond to the BBC's request for comment. The app says in its guidelines that protecting and valuing the user's voice is one of its core values.
