Debunking was once a marginal pursuit. Today, it’s an industry—and not always a noble one. On YouTube in particular, debunking has evolved into a performance art: high on confidence, low on curiosity.
Debunking has grown into a self-sustaining ecosystem, complete with ad revenue, merchandise, and an online culture that thrives on conflict.
Real skepticism emphasises the importance of doubt. Online skepticism, more often than not, weaponises it.
Pseudoskepticism is not skepticism. It is the performance of skepticism—a theatrical routine in which every alternative idea becomes a villain, every straw man a triumph, and every insult a punchline.
Author and independent researcher David Drew deconstructs how the debunking industry has become self-parody—complete with slogans, merchandise, and revenue streams.
