Brazilian here. This explanation is indeed lacking. You cannot look at social media platforms in an isolate manner: there is overlap between users, and it's not like all users are equal - a small minority (which accepts new entrants through viral tickets) is the one with more weigh on creating/disseminating content. Saying whatsapp is dominant is a little lacking: it has the greatest number of users, DAO, etc, yes... But whatsapp is more fore social-bubbles: it's hard to interact with people you don't know (unless you join a group, but then again you will only be there if it's accessible through your bubble); and also there are no paid ads - we know there is an industry of fake newsvertisements where people PAY to establish top-down content by force.
So it goes something like this for a user, using a real anecdote as an example:
1) Get exposed to content they never seen before, like let's say "The UN in reality is run by satanist pedophiles". This is more likely to happen outside of one's bubble - therefore not on whatsapp.
2) Get exposed again and again, either to the content, or high-reach influencers, or ads, or a mixture of the 3.
3) Search google for "UN satanist pedophile". Now you can read "real theory" by "very legitimate people" in long form explaining the proofs, history, motivation, etc for the conspiracy.
4) Radicalization
5) Now you need validation for your behavior/beliefs.
6) You identify and approach or get approached by liked-minded lunatics.
7) They invite you to the whatsapp group "only for believers".
8) Now you feel part of a group and ready to "act".
So it goes something like this for a user, using a real anecdote as an example:
1) Get exposed to content they never seen before, like let's say "The UN in reality is run by satanist pedophiles". This is more likely to happen outside of one's bubble - therefore not on whatsapp.
2) Get exposed again and again, either to the content, or high-reach influencers, or ads, or a mixture of the 3.
3) Search google for "UN satanist pedophile". Now you can read "real theory" by "very legitimate people" in long form explaining the proofs, history, motivation, etc for the conspiracy.
4) Radicalization
5) Now you need validation for your behavior/beliefs.
6) You identify and approach or get approached by liked-minded lunatics.
7) They invite you to the whatsapp group "only for believers".
8) Now you feel part of a group and ready to "act".
9) You take part in a nazi rally [a]
a: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlQkEAfX_xA