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As a self-proclaimed Disney Adult, I’ve noticed how the media often portrays people like me in a very specific—and sometimes unflattering—way. The stereotype suggests that Disney Adults are overly obsessed, emotionally immature, and refuse to “grow up.” We’re often depicted as people who spend excessive amounts of money on merchandise, visit the parks religiously, and prioritize Disney over “more adult” responsibilities like careers or relationships.

Media Constructions and Their Accuracy

This stereotype has some truth to it, but it also lacks nuance. Yes, many Disney Adults enjoy returning to the parks frequently, collecting merchandise, and keeping up with Disney news, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of touch with reality. For many of us, Disney represents nostalgia, creativity, and joy—something that modern adulthood often lacks. The idea that we’re “immature” is rooted in a narrow view of what adulthood should look like. Why is it more acceptable to be a die-hard sports fan than a Disney fan? The context of why people connect to Disney is often missing from media portrayals.

Two Examples of Disney Adult Stereotypes in Media

1. SNL’s “Disney Adults” Sketch (2023)
   In this Saturday Night Live skit, Disney Adults are depicted as people who treat Disney as a religion, worship the characters, and even break down in tears over a Mickey meet-and-greet. While exaggerated for comedy, it pushes the idea that Disney Adults take things too far and are incapable of handling real-world emotions.
2. TikTok & Twitter Memes
   A common meme format online often shows Disney Adults as people who throw tantrums when something at the parks changes or someone criticizes Disney. For example, tweets mocking adults who cry when they see Cinderella’s Castle imply that our emotional connection to Disney is ridiculous. These posts ignore the fact that nostalgia is a powerful emotion, and for some, Disney represents childhood joy, family memories, or even a coping mechanism for stress or trauma.

The Impact of This Stereotype

The “Disney Adult” stereotype can be harmful because it reinforces the idea that certain interests are only valid at a certain age. It also ignores the diversity of Disney Adults—many are professionals, parents, creatives, and even mental health advocates who use Disney as a form of self-expression and escapism. However, this stereotype can also benefit Disney itself, as it reinforces brand loyalty and the idea that Disney is a lifelong passion, not just a childhood phase.

Reframing the Narrative

Rather than dismissing Disney Adults as childish, media should explore why people find comfort in Disney. Whether it’s nostalgia, artistry, or simply the joy of storytelling, there’s a deeper reason behind this fandom that often goes overlooked. After all, isn’t life a little more magical when you allow yourself to embrace the things that bring you happiness?

On December 14, 2012, one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A gunman, Adam Lanza, killed 26 people, including 20 children and 6 school staff members, before taking his own life. The tragedy deeply affected the nation, igniting discussions on gun control, mental health, and school safety.

However, in the wake of this horrific event, a wave of conspiracy theories emerged, claiming that the shooting was a hoax orchestrated by the government. These false narratives were amplified by social media, misinformation websites, and conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones, who suggested that the event was staged using “crisis actors” to push for stricter gun control laws.

Despite extensive evidence, eyewitness accounts, and official reports, these false claims spread widely, causing significant harm to the victims’ families. This blog post explores how the controversy began, the persuasion tactics used to continue the narrative, and how the issue has evolved over time.

The Origin of the Controversy

The Sandy Hook conspiracy theories stemmed from a combination of mistrust in the government and misinformation. The claims first gained traction in fringe online communities like 4chan, Reddit, and conspiracy websites.

Several factors contributed to the rise of these conspiracy theories:

• Selective Editing of Footage: Some conspiracy theorists manipulated interviews with victims’ parents, claiming their emotions seemed “staged.”
• Distrust in the Media and Government: People were already skeptical of government actions, making them more susceptible to “false flag operation theories”—the belief that the event was staged to justify gun control laws.
• Social Media Amplification: Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter allowed misinformation to spread rapidly, reaching millions of people before fact-checkers could intervene.

One of the leading figures promoting these false claims was Alex Jones, a far-right conspiracy theorist and founder of Infowars. Jones told his audience that Sandy Hook was “completely fake” and part of a broader government plan to take away Americans’ guns.

Persuasion Tactics and Propaganda Used

The spread of Sandy Hook conspiracy theories relied on several persuasion tactics commonly used in misinformation campaigns:

1. Emotional Manipulation – Conspiracy theorists exploited grief and trauma, claiming inconsistencies in victims’ parents’ reactions. For example, a widely circulated video misrepresented an interview with Robbie Parker, a grieving father, suggesting he was “acting” when he smiled briefly before addressing the media.
2. Selective Evidence (Cherry-Picking) – Videos and blogs carefully edited and removed context to make it appear as though official reports had inconsistencies.
3. Appeals to Distrust in Authority – Sandy Hook deniers framed their claims as “exposing the truth”, portraying themselves as defenders of freedom against a manipulative government.
4. Repetition & Echo Chambers – False claims were repeated across multiple platforms, reinforcing belief among followers. The more a claim was shared, the more credible it seemed.

Is the Issue Resolved?

Over time, the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories have been largely debunked by investigative journalism, lawsuits, and fact-checking organizations. However, some misinformation still lingers in fringe groups.

Key Developments That Debunked the Conspiracy Theories:

• Legal Consequences:
  • In 2022, Alex Jones was ordered to pay nearly $1 billion in damages to Sandy Hook families for defamation and emotional distress. This landmark case set a precedent for holding conspiracy theorists accountable.
• Fact-Checking Organizations:
  • Websites like Snopes, Politifact, and the Associated Press have repeatedly debunked false claims about Sandy Hook.
• Social Media Crackdowns:
  • Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter have removed thousands of videos and accounts that spread Sandy Hook misinformation.

The Importance of Media Literacy

The Sandy Hook shooting and its subsequent conspiracy theories highlight the dangers of misinformation and the importance of media literacy. The rapid spread of false claims shows how propaganda, persuasion tactics, and social media algorithms can manipulate public perception.

To combat misinformation, individuals must:
✔ Verify sources before sharing content.
✔ Recognize emotional manipulation in media.
✔ Fact-check claims using reputable sources.

Understanding how propaganda works can help protect society from harmful conspiracy theories and ensure that truth prevails over misinformation.

8:00am: I got to sleep in today and it was amazing! I start my day with the typical Instagram scroll of doom. Catching up on Stories of friends and influencers that I follow. In between stories I occasionally get ads that I definitely feel are targeted. Yesterday I accidently swiped up on an ad instead of tapping thru, and today I notice that I have seen that ad more than once.

9:00am: I head to ESPN.com to read an article for one of my assignments. I have to keep a reading log for 20 days. In a normal day I would not be on this website or care about anything that’s happening in the sports world. However, now that I am doing this, I have noticed that I am getting a lot more sports content than I have before. The thing that sticks out to me here though, is that I am on my laptop reading these articles, yet the new ads and suggested content I’m receiving is through apps on my phone.

2:00pm: Lunch break! This time instead of my typical social media scroll, I go through my emails to find a confirmation email. I am planning a Disneyland Trip for my daughter and I and couldn’t remember which hotel I booked. Since I was browsing hotels the day before I am now getting some Disney specific sites advertised with some great deals! So, I change those reservations stat! If I had more time, I would clean up these junk emails…but that will have to wait for another time.

6:00pm: I clock off from work and start my drive home. Todays driving entertainment is Spotify. Today is an episode of Armchair Expert with their guest Tyler Perry. Because I’m listening on Spotify, there are ads included with this podcast. These aren’t targeted ads but typically paid promotions for the hosts. Dax Shepard can be heard saying “this podcast is brought to you by (insert company they are promoting). But now I’m curious about Spotify’s privacy policy and decide to look it up : https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/privacy-policy/

Today was a lighter day for me when it comes to media usage. But it still opened my eyes to how much information we really do send out into the world. When I think about all the junk emails I have, I only have them because at some point I signed up and gave them my email. I’m now also going to approach apps and other media differently and read the privacy policies and see exactly where my information is going.

I knew that social media sites talked to each other, especially Facebook and Instagram, but it still kind of blows my mind how synced it is. I clicked on one ad for a Beach waver curling iron, and now I see that ad show up on all my social media. I am definitely changing my privacy settings on all apps right now!

6:00 a.m.: I woke up this morning and even though I do not like to admit it, the first thing I do is check my phone for any notifications. I’ll scroll thru everything I missed while I was sleeping (why do so many emails come thru after 10:00pm?) I didn’t miss anything important.

6:15 a.m.: I open my Instagram app and start to watch stories of my favorite influencers. Most of the people I follow live on the east coast so there is usually a good amount to go through as I wake myself up for the day. I also mess around in Snapchat to make sure I don’t lose any of the streaks I have going with friends.

6:30 a.m.: I finally roll out of bed to get ready for work. I always listen to podcasts on the Spotify App while getting ready. Today’s listen was episode 463 of My Favorite Murder titled “We are never Brief.”

7:15 a.m.: I open several apps that I use for work to check in before getting started for the day. I use GroupMe and Workplace apps as well as some work specific sites through my phone’s browser.

8:00 a.m.-12 p.m.: I’m working at this point, so I don’t have a lot of media usage, but when I do it’s usually messaging app that the managers in our district use. We celebrate the morning goals, ask questions, ask for help and just give support throughout the day.

12:30 p.m.: Lunch break! First thing I go to is Instagram. I watch some more stories as I eat, send some reels I find relatable to my work bestie and engage with content.

4:30 p.m.: Headed home, I connect Spotify to my cars airplay and listen to Tyler the creator. Taking my daughter to his concert soon and was informed I need to “catch up” on his older stuff too, just in case.

5:30 p.m.: Today is Wednesday so my TV time is enjoyed first opening the streaming service Paramount+. NCIS and NCIS Origins should have loaded by now, so I do my catch up watching…but there wasn’t a new episode. I switch over to Peacock because Brilliant Minds should have a new episode today! Still nothing. Was there no live television this week? My final attempt to indulge in television, I head to Netflix. Here I’m re-watching The Resident (Matt Czuchry is so dreamy #TeamLogan), Netflix never lets me down.

7:30 p.m.: I guess I should be responsible today and do some classwork, I pull out my laptop, log into MyAsu and listen to some lectures. I also get distracted at this point and stumble upon a Disney planning site and start to price out a vacation (I don’t understand how this always happens to me when I’m studying.)

9:00 p.m.: One last mindless scroll on Instagram stories before bed. Once I’m done with that I turn on my white noise app and go to sleep!

What Ive learned during this exercise is that I spend too much time on social media. As far as credibility for the apps I use, I typically only follow individuals who post their day to day lives. There isn’t a lot of things shared that could be misconstrued or sway opinions (unless I’m trying a pick a new lip color), so I’d say they are credible.

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