Predictive programming is a made-up element of conspiracy theories that supposes conspirators hide references in popular media before an atrocity takes place. When it occurs, the public has supposedly softened up and accepts it rather than resisting.
Conspiracy theorists invented the so-called predictive programming to allow them to use similarities in books, music, movies, etc., as “evidence” that the atrocity was intentional & caused by a conspiracy. It also gives them a convenient excuse to justify why these conspiracists would even purposely leak their secret plans of an atrocity in popular media.
The first predictive programming could have been “The Wreck of the Titan, or Futility,” which is claimed to have predicted the sinking of the Titanic. A modern popular example is “The Simpsons,” which is claimed to have predicted too many things, including Donald Trump’s presidency, 9/11, COVID-19, and many others. “The Hunger Games” is claimed to predict a totalitarian government in the future; or the present, to some theory conspiracists.
Flat-Earth is a frequent object of ridicule in popular media. But, predictably, flat-Earthers claim that these references about flat Earth are examples of predictive programming.
References
- Predictive programming – RationalWiki
- Predictive Programming – Dahria Beaver – Ohio State University
- Predictive Programming: How Movies, Books, and TV Shows Predict the Future? – Interesting Engineering
- Fact Check-The Simpsons episodes are not evidence of ‘predictive programing’ – Reuters