5G conspiracy theory claims that vaccinated people are ‘spontaneously combusting.’ They aren’t.

Conspiracy theorists are once again setting their sights on one of their favorite targets: 5G.

The claims surrounding this particular conspiracy are especially over the top, yet it’s spreading like wildfire on all corners of the web.

What’s the latest 5G conspiracy theory?

It’s that 5G is causing people to “spontaneously combust” in different countries as the mobile network gets “turned up” or “launches” in that part of the world. 

A post on the right-wing social network GETTR spreading the viral video of “exploding heads” cased by 5G. (This is not true.)
Credit: Mashable Screenshot

And, the conspiracy theory goes, this is going to happen in the United States of America too, real soon. Jan. 5, 2022, to be exact. Because this, according to the claims, is when 5G will be “turned up” here too.

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Obviously, this is not true. People are not suddenly blowing up because of 5G. I mean, people are not suddenly exploding at all, to be perfectly clear. 

But also, 5G has been in use for a number of years now. It’s not suddenly being launched. Nor is anyone cranking up the 5G with the big 5G dial, if that’s what “turned up” presumably means.

Conspiracy theorists are spreading falsehoods about 5G, COVID-19, and Jan. 5.
Credit: Mashable Screenshot

So, what’s going on here?

Videos on Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram are spreading that actually show crowds of people surrounding individuals who suddenly collapse as smoke comes billowing out of their faces. These videos are being used as proof that this is indeed something that is happening.

The videos are real and quite disturbing. However, no one is spontaneously combusting. These videos are from 2019 and depict protesters in Iraq being shot at close range with “non-lethal” tear gas rounds. Unsurprisingly, when police shoot these at close range, they do become quite lethal and can actually become embedded into someone’s head, creating that disturbing image caught on camera.

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Like most modern conspiracy theories, COVID-19 plays a role in this conspiracy. When this latest 5G conspiracy pops up online, there’s usually an element of these nefarious effects of 5G happening to the vaccinated. In fact, since the pandemic began, 5G and the coronavirus have become quite inseparable in the conspiratorial world. 5G conspiracies involving COVID-19 have led to individuals seeking out and actually burning down mobile towers.

To be absolutely clear: There is no connection between COVID-19 and 5G.

Another common element in these recent 5G conspiracy theories is that the elites and powerful interests must know this is all going to go down on Jan. 5 because some movie ticket websites won’t let you purchase seats for anytime after Thursday, Jan. 6.

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Some theaters have stepped in to explain that this is normal, as new releases enter the theaters on Fridays and the ensuing schedule changes have not been rolled out yet.

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Believers in the pro-Trump conspiracy theory, QAnon, are also getting involved and trying to find meaning to this week’s latest film release, The 355, starring Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, and Penelope Cruz. According to the conspiracy, it is the only movie currently scheduled to play in movie theaters, so conspiracy theorists are trying to formulate some greater explanation for this.

Again, this is not true. There’s no deeper meaning here. Some movie theater listings were just not updated at the time these individuals went to the theaters’ websites. The 355 is just an action movie being released this week.

The 355 is a new action movie being released this week. It has also become a major point of discussion for conspiracy theorists.
Credit: Mashable Screenshot

Former President Donald Trump was also planning a press conference on Jan. 6, which led to further speculation in these communities regarding what’s happening this week. However, Trump canceled his planned conference on Tuesday evening.

Trump’s since-canceled Jan. 6 press conference was an important part of the 5G conspiracy for some.
Credit: Mashable Screenshot

Interestingly, 5G has actually been a major story in the news this week. Major wireless carriers such as AT&T and Verizon announced they would be postponing the rollout of new 5G service across the country over concerns it could possibly interfere with aircraft systems. (This is where the Jan. 5 date comes from to begin with. That was the original date of the 5G launch.)

The postponement is pretty significant and involves a long-standing issue that has existed between the wireless carries and the airline industry when it comes to 5G. Seems like perfect fodder for conspiracy theories, doesn’t it? Yet, the prevailing 5G conspiracy theory today is that 5G is being “turned up” and causing people’s heads to explode.

Well, it looks like someone better let the conspiracy theorists know that the new 5G rollout date is Jan. 19.