{"id":26229,"date":"2022-12-28T10:06:58","date_gmt":"2022-12-28T10:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/28\/how-seo-is-helping-archaeologists-debunk-conspiracy-theories\/"},"modified":"2022-12-28T10:06:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-28T10:06:58","slug":"how-seo-is-helping-archaeologists-debunk-conspiracy-theories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/28\/how-seo-is-helping-archaeologists-debunk-conspiracy-theories\/","title":{"rendered":"How SEO Is Helping Archaeologists Debunk Conspiracy Theories"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The opinions expressed within this story are solely the author\u2019s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of Search Engine Journal or its affiliates.<\/em><\/p>\n

You may have heard about \u201cAncient Apocalypse\u201d, a series in which host Graham Hancock proposes controversial theories about the origins of ancient civilizations.<\/p>\n

It spent a week trending in the global top 10 on Netflix, accruing around 24,620,000 watch hours between November 14th and November 20th, 2022.<\/p>\n

Netflix lends authority to the show by categorizing it as a \u201cdocuseries,\u201d and IMDB classifies it as a \u201cdocumentary\u201d and \u201chistory.\u201d<\/p>\n

But online, it\u2019s been shrouded in controversy, and search algorithms might be rewarding good-faith critiques about the show from scientists and educators \u2013 as some working archeologists have deemed the show unsubstantiated pseudoscience at best, and dangerous misinformation at worst.<\/p>\n

The Society For American Archaeology<\/a> wrote a letter to Netflix<\/a> asking it to reclassify and contextualize the show, citing the host\u2019s \u201caggressive rhetoric,\u201d the show\u2019s \u201cfalse claims,\u201d and the associations that the theories presented have with \u201cracist, white supremacist ideologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

But this is a story about the role SEO plays in the controversy \u2013 how scientists and science communicators present their critiques of the show, and how audiences find them.<\/p>\n

Search algorithms get a lot of critiques for how they can be used to spread misinformation.<\/p>\n

But in this case, I\u2019ve seen support for educators and scientists who have committed to pushing back on popular pseudoscience.<\/p>\n

Creators Rebutting \u201cAncient Apocalypse\u201d Get A Boost From SEO<\/h2>\n

I first learned of the controversy from YouTube creator \u201cHistory With Kayleigh,\u201d who, while not an academic or accredited archaeologist, creates educational videos about ancient history and archaeological sites.<\/p>\n

She interacted with Tweets from scientists who had responded and \u201cdecided to try and write a fair rebuttal to the show,\u201d as she told me.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh\u2019s video about \u201cAncient Apocalypse\u201d<\/a> isn\u2019t the best-performing video on her channel. Still, it was definitely performing above the average of her recent releases in a short amount of time, at 67,000 views on December 1st.<\/p>\n

\"screenshotScreenshot from YouTube, December 2022<\/span>