QAnon is thought to have started sometime in 2017. That’s when “clues” began appearing online allegedly released by a high-ranking federal government official—who goes by Q” The posts first appeared on 4Chan, and they have since spread to other parts of the internet, with fans of Q signing on as supporters of QAnon conspiracy theories and spending hours analyzing Q’s “clues” for information.

QAnon has gained several celebrity fans, including former baseball player Curt Schilling and actress Roseanne Barr, and it is considered by many to spread conspiracy theories and other forms of disinformation. In one QAnon video supported by Schilling, it was said that presidents prior to President Donald Trump were criminals, and the military stepped in to convince Trump to run for election.

The group’s existence was first thrust into the mainstream in late July 2018, when people appeared at a Tampa, Florida rally for Trump holding signs with Q-related messages, from “We are Q” to a simple hashtag “#Qanon.” The group is also known to look for deeper meaning in the use of the number 17 (which matches the position of Q in the alphabet).

What’s the difference between misinformation and disinformation, anyways? Get all the info in our explainer, “Misinformation” vs. “Disinformation”: Get Informed On The Difference.”