# Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory > Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory is a 2020 misinformation meme falsely linking 5G networks to COVID-19, spreading across social media and triggering cell tower arson attacks globally. The Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory is a debunked claim that 5G wireless networks either caused, spread, or amplified COVID-19 during the 2020 pandemic. The theory first surfaced on fringe websites in January 2020 and rapidly spread across Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, boosted by celebrity endorsements and anti-technology sentiment. Despite having zero scientific basis, the conspiracy led to real-world consequences including arson attacks on cell towers across the UK, Netherlands, and Canada[7]. ## Origin The exact origin point is murky, but the earliest documented version appeared on January 25, 2020, when a user called "NaturalWisdom" posted an article on RumorMillNews, a conspiracy theory website[5]. The article's title cut right to the point: "More Jim Stone: Wuhan is where 5G was rolled out. What if this pandemic is caused by weakened immune systems due to excessive 5g exposure?" Two days later, on January 27, 2020, a Facebook user named Stynes Robert shared a segment of that post in the "Stop 5G U.K." Facebook group, where it picked up more than 300 shares, 230 reactions, and 130 comments within weeks[5]. The theory built on existing anti-5G sentiment that had been simmering for years. Conspiracy theories about mobile phone radiation have circulated since the 1990s, and doctors first discussed "radiophobia" as early as 1903[8]. Before COVID-19, anti-5G campaigners had already blamed the technology for unexplained bird deaths and tree damage[8]. The pandemic simply gave them a much bigger hook. - **Platform:** RumorMillNews (conspiracy website), Facebook (viral spread) - **Creator:** Unknown (originated from fringe conspiracy communities) - **Date:** 2020 ## Overview The Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory came in several different strains, each more implausible than the last[8]. The most basic version pointed out that Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, was also an early site for 5G trials in China, and claimed this was no coincidence[1]. More elaborate versions insisted that 5G radiation weakened immune systems, making people vulnerable to infection. The wildest mutation claimed 5G towers directly transmitted the virus itself, sometimes folding in Bill Gates, mandatory vaccinations, and implanted tracking chips activated by 5G radio waves[8]. All versions share one thing in common: they have no scientific support whatsoever. 5G operates on non-ionizing radio waves, the same part of the electromagnetic spectrum used by 4G, Wi-Fi, and traditional radio signals for decades[2]. Organizations including the WHO, CDC, FCC, and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection have confirmed that 5G at regulated power levels poses no known health risks[2]. ## How It Spread Fact-checkers moved fast. On January 29, 2020, the UK-based organization Full Fact published "The Wuhan coronavirus has nothing to do with 5G," rating the claim as false and noting that while Wuhan did have some 5G coverage, several other major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou did too[1]. COVID-19 was also spreading in countries with no 5G infrastructure at all. None of that slowed things down. On March 10, 2020, Facebook user Ben Mackie posted about the theory and racked up 2,700 comments, 2,600 shares, and 580 reactions in under a month[5]. Mackie's post went further than most, claiming the virus was fake, that Bill Gates invented 5G, and that upcoming vaccines were actually tracking chip implants[4]. Two days later, Dr. Thomas Cowan gave a presentation at a health summit in Tucson, Arizona, arguing that because Africa initially had fewer COVID-19 cases and less 5G coverage, the two must be connected[6]. The YouTube video of his talk spread widely, despite the WHO confirming around 640 cases in Africa by that point[6]. Celebrity involvement turbocharged the conspiracy. On March 15, 2020, American singer Keri Hilson tweeted to her 4.2 million followers: "People have been trying to warn us about 5G for YEARS. Petitions, organizations, studies...what we're going thru is the affects [sic] of radiation. 5G launched in CHINA. Nov 1, 2019. People dropped dead"[4]. The tweet received more than 6,700 likes before she deleted it[5]. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr responded that her claims were "straight from the most dangerous depths of tin foil hat land"[4]. In April 2020, actor Woody Harrelson shared an article on Instagram attempting to link 5G to the pandemic, saying he hadn't "fully vetted" the claims but found them "very interesting"[4]. The spread wasn't limited to social media. In the UK, community radio station Uckfield FM aired a 20-minute interview with a woman introduced as a "registered nurse" who claimed 5G was connected to the outbreak and that the virus was lab-created[3]. She turned out to be a practitioner of alternative medicines. Ofcom sanctioned the station and ordered it to broadcast an apology, warning other outlets it would be stepping up monitoring of broadcasts that could undermine public trust during the crisis[3]. ## How to Use The Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory doesn't function like a traditional meme template. Instead, it typically appears in a few formats: - **Ironic screenshots**: People share absurd conspiracy posts with mocking commentary or reaction images - **Tinfoil hat jokes**: Memes depicting conspiracy believers as paranoid, often using existing templates like the "Pepe Silvia" conspiracy board from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - **Satirical expansions**: Taking the logic to absurd extremes, like "5G also causes stubbed toes" or "5G made my toast burn" - **News headline reactions**: Sharing coverage of tower arsons or celebrity endorsements with disbelief reactions The meme is most commonly used to mock conspiracy thinking in general rather than to spread the actual theory. ## Cultural Impact The 5G conspiracy became a case study in pandemic-era misinformation. Ofcom took the unprecedented step of warning all UK broadcasters that they faced sanctions for airing unsubstantiated 5G-COVID health claims, calling it a matter of protecting public health during a national crisis[3]. The regulator noted that baseless material connecting 5G to coronavirus had spread widely on WhatsApp, Facebook groups, and the community platform NextDoor, all far less regulated than broadcast media[3]. Major tech platforms implemented some of their most aggressive content moderation policies in response. YouTube's ban on 5G-coronavirus hoax content was part of a broader crackdown on COVID misinformation[4]. Facebook and Twitter followed with their own removal and labeling policies[4]. The conspiracy also posed a genuine threat to public infrastructure. Communications networks were essential during the pandemic, and attacks on cell towers threatened coverage during lockdowns when people depended on phone and internet service more than ever[9]. The US Department of Homeland Security specifically flagged the threat to wireless equipment[4]. Researchers in Jordan found that misinformation about 5G causing COVID-19 was associated with higher anxiety levels among study participants[7]. The conspiracy became one of the most widely studied examples of how misinformation spreads during a health crisis. ## Fun Facts - China's 5G networks in Wuhan used sub-6 GHz radio frequencies, the same frequency range that 4G, Wi-Fi, and home microwave ovens had been using for years worldwide[2] - Some UK networks operated at less than 1% of the safety levels recommended by the ICNIRP[2] - Conspiracy theories about radiophobia predate radio itself, with doctors discussing the concept as early as 1903[8] - The theory was debunked within four days of its first documented appearance: RumorMillNews posted on January 25, Full Fact published their fact-check on January 29[1][5] - Dense deployment of 5G base stations actually reduces average electromagnetic field exposure compared to sparse deployment, the opposite of what conspiracy theorists claim[7] ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory? It is a debunked claim that 5G wireless technology either caused, spread, or amplified COVID-19. The theory appeared in multiple forms, from claims that 5G weakened immune systems to assertions that the technology directly transmitted the virus[1][5]. ### Where did the Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory come from? The earliest documented version appeared on the conspiracy website RumorMillNews on January 25, 2020, and spread to Facebook's "Stop 5G U.K." group two days later[5]. ### What does the Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory mean? As a meme, it is most often referenced ironically to mock conspiracy thinking and pandemic misinformation. The actual theory has no scientific basis and was debunked by health organizations worldwide[1][2]. ### How do you use the Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory meme? People typically share screenshots of absurd conspiracy posts with mocking commentary, create satirical extensions of the logic, or reference it as shorthand for pandemic-era misinformation[4]. ### Is the Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory still popular? The theory's peak was in early-to-mid 2020. While belief in the conspiracy declined as vaccine rollouts and pandemic recovery progressed, surveys showed lingering belief among a minority of the population as late as 2021[7]. ### Did people really burn down cell towers over this? Yes. Nearly 90 attacks on mobile masts were reported during the UK lockdown alone, with additional arson incidents in Canada and the Netherlands. Almost 50 telecom engineers were physically assaulted in the UK[7]. ### Which celebrities promoted the conspiracy? Singer Keri Hilson tweeted about it to her 4.2 million followers on March 15, 2020, and actor Woody Harrelson shared a related article on Instagram in April 2020[4][5]. ### Is there any scientific link between 5G and COVID-19? No. 5G uses non-ionizing radio waves that cannot damage DNA or create viruses. The WHO, CDC, FCC, FDA, and ICNIRP have all confirmed 5G poses no known health risk at regulated levels[2][4]. ### What did social media platforms do about it? YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter all implemented content removal or labeling policies for posts falsely linking 5G to COVID-19, with YouTube specifically banning such content in April 2020[4]. ### How many people believed the theory? A 2020 UK survey found 8% believed in a definite link between COVID-19 and 5G, with another 19% unsure. A 2021 US survey found 20% of adults believed it was at least "probably true" that vaccines contained 5G-activated microchips[7]. ### What action did UK regulators take? Ofcom warned all broadcasters they faced sanctions for airing unsubstantiated 5G-COVID claims and sanctioned Uckfield FM for broadcasting a 20-minute uncontested interview promoting the conspiracy[3]. ## References 1. [UK media outlets told not to promote baseless 5G coronavirus theories | Ofcom | The Guardian]() 2. [More Jim Stone: Wuhan is where 5G was rolled out. What if this pandemic is caused by weakened immune systems due to excessive 5g exposure?]() 3. [The Wuhan coronavirus has nothing to do with 5G – Full Fact]() 4. [Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy Theory - Know Your Meme]() 5. [5G misinformation]() 6. [5G has no link to COVID-19 but false conspiracy theories persist - CNET]() 7. [Coronavirus: Here's why science says 5G didn't cause COVID-19]() 8. [YouTube Video Suggests 5G Internet Causes Coronavirus and People Are Falling for It - Newsweek]() 9. [Perma | www.okayplayer.com]() 10. [Coronavirus: Here's why science says 5G didn't cause COVID-19]() 11. [5G has no link to COVID-19 but false conspiracy theories persist - CNET]() 12. [More Jim Stone: Wuhan is where 5G was rolled out. What if this pandemic is caused by weakened immune systems due to excessive 5g exposure?]() 13. [Four experts investigate how the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory began]() 14. [Four experts investigate how the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory began]() 15. [Phone Towers Torched In UK Over '5G-Coronavirus' Conspiracy Theory]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/coronavirus-5g-conspiracy-theory Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library