Bandwagon
Claiming something is true or right because many people believe or do it.
- informal
The bandwagon fallacy (argumentum ad populum) treats the popularity of a belief as evidence of its truth. But widespread acceptance is not proof: large groups of people have been wrong throughout history, and a claim's correctness does not depend on a headcount.
Examples
- “Everyone's switching to this diet, so it must be the healthiest way to eat.”
- “This app has millions of downloads, so it's clearly the most secure option.”
Why it works & how to counter
Persuasive because agreeing with the crowd feels safe and validating. Counter it by asking for the reasons behind the popular view — popularity and truth are independent.