QAnon conspiracy theory grew out of earlier false claims like Pizzagate and gained followers through social media and online communities.

Before Q, there was Pizzagate, a false story that claimed a pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. was involved in a child trafficking ring. When Q started posting, these ideas mixed and grew. QAnon spread quickly online, helped by social media platforms and websites where people share conspiracy ideas. This online spread helped the theory reach many people beyond just internet forums.