Stranger Things Viewers Are Totally Split Over 'Conformity Gate' Fan Theory
This article contains spoilers for the final episode of Stranger Things.
As is so often the case with a TV show as huge as Stranger Things, the recent series finale hasn’t exactly won everyone over.
The award-winning Netflix sci-fi drama came to an end last week, with one last feature-length episode released on New Year’s Day.
Since then, fans have been split about the final instalment of Stranger Things, which closed with a flash-forward to the group’s high school graduation and a somewhat ambiguous ending that the show’s creators have insisted is up to fans to determine what happens.
However, some viewers (particularly those who were more unimpressed with the way things turned out in the finale) have theorised there may be more to the last episode than meets the eye, and that yet another instalment could be dropping on Netflix later this week…
Why do some Stranger Things fans think a new episode is coming on 7 January? And what is the ‘Conformity Gate’ theory?
Based on “evidence” that people have been piecing together online, many fans have begun speculating that the epilogue at the end of the Stranger Things finale may have been a fake reality constructed by Vecna to make them believe he’s dead when he isn’t.
One suggestion is that the spines of the neatly-arranged books in the Dungeons & Dragons scene appear to spell out ‘X A Lie’, hinting that what transpired in Dimension X didn’t quite go down as it appeared on screen.
Then, there’s the shot of the audience at the Hawkins High graduation, who all mimic the body language of Vecna’s human form, Henry Creel, while it has also been pointed out that the Wheeler family have all begun to resemble him too.
I think Mike is keeping the party “happy” and distracted from what is really happening, especially since even the graduation felt strange. Everyone, including the people in the back, was positioned the same way as Henry. That feels too intentional to be a coincidence pic.twitter.com/luCA11QAQy
— jenny_lo (@jenny_lo27) January 3, 2026
this conformity gate theory is INSANEEE, if it doesn’t happen we truly are better writers than the duffers #conformitygate#StrangerThings5pic.twitter.com/xskLExHXIe
— Adnan (@AdnanLovesCats) January 4, 2026
This theory would also explain the absence of certain characters from the finale, as they are people that Vecna didn’t know, and therefore couldn’t include in his distorted reality.
Reality if Vickie was not seen at the end because I had never seen her?But if Stacey came out at the end because Vecna saw her at the snowball party, and when she invites Dustin to the party she doesn’t mention Suzie maybe it’s because Vecna doesn’t know her #conformitygatepic.twitter.com/UWw37UnhJM
— ȷᥲᥒᥱ (@mitliss_) January 5, 2026
Among fans on social media, this theory has come to be known as “Conformity Gate”, with many of those who believe in it also speculating that the truth will come out in a new episode released on 7 January.
Per Forbes, the root of this 7 January theory is a “cryptic” social media post Netflix shared on Christmas Day, teasing that “your Future is on its way” on that pivotal date.
We should point out, though, that the post in question actually alludes to the date the streaming platform is unveiling its slate for 2026, and was accompanied by a trailer featuring Teyana Taylor, the star of Netflix’s new action comedy The Rip.
Your Future is on its way. #WhatNext Jan 7, 2026. pic.twitter.com/IFteJN4Yo9
— Netflix (@netflix) December 25, 2025
It’s also been pointed out that 7 January marks Orthodox Christmas, with the previous three batches of episodes in Stranger Things’ final dates falling around other major holidays, namely Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Fuelling the fire even further is the fact that a mysterious website NovemberSixthNineteenEightySeven.com (referring to a date mere dates after the events of Stranger Things’ final episode) features a countdown in the show’s regular font and style that ends on 7 January (click here to see if for yourself).
Do Stranger Things fans really believe the ‘Conformity Gate’ theory?
As you can see, this is one fans have very mixed feelings about…
The Duffer Brothers could make Stranger Things the greatest series if the Conformity Gate theory is real. This could be the ultimate cinematic illusion, a dream sequence. What if Mike is inventing his own ending or Vecna is creating an illusion? Nothing in the finale feels right. pic.twitter.com/hsOItizWj9
— Fzy (@leofzy) January 5, 2026
and if u look up conformity gate on tik tok or twitter or instagram the theories and edits are all INSANEEEE pic.twitter.com/90OciIwGKI
— ????⋆.˚ (@stargirlh3art) January 5, 2026
ALR I NEED TO SAY SOME
— Oni Livid (@Lividsz) January 6, 2026
This conformity gate theory is getting really weird.
I've watched so many series and I've never seen this many eastereggs evidence hints everything colors changing the characters literally suggesting if this is even real and I wanna say delusional but,… pic.twitter.com/yfxDSwZ0Xc
You NEED to see this! @Stranger_Things Season 5 EPISODE 9 (conformity gate) is basically confirmed! WATCH THIS!#conformitygate#conformitygatetheorypic.twitter.com/FqAPPo2ZFK
— This Brown Geek (@thisbrowngeek) January 6, 2026
conformity gate is getting more and more real every time i see evidence. i look like this when i talk ab it pic.twitter.com/Y5dQ6TBpXq
— ⋆˚????????˚⋆ izzy (@izzy_the_yachi) January 2, 2026
The Conformity Gate theory is absolute madness… and I desperately want it to be true, but if it comes true? I’m emotionally done.
— ❥₩ɆĐ₦Ɇ₴Đ₳Ɏ????ᶻᵃᵏʰᶠⁱʸᵃ✍︎ (@InkOfWednesday) January 5, 2026
Or we just becoming Joyce Byers. #StrangerThings5pic.twitter.com/ePlreG641p
Has anyone else gone down the stranger things “conformity gate” rabbit hole??? I feel like Joyce with them damn lights because there’s no way all this stuff was completely random! Actually losing my marbles rn! pic.twitter.com/5zHYHgL2hH
— Skylar McAllister (@sortaskylar97) January 5, 2026
How it feels to listen and agree with conformity gate pic.twitter.com/YcEChP8mWT
— Festive Liv ???? Stranger Things spoiler zone (@Liv_was_there) January 2, 2026
i initially said that the stranger things conformity gate stuff was stupid……
— ????️ (@_horcruxed) January 5, 2026
now y’all have me feeling like this guy pic.twitter.com/QVEENSoju6
it’s official i’ve gotten way too deep into this stranger things conformity gate shit why has this show got me feeling like her pic.twitter.com/xcX4k34ktB
— jay???? (@ankokii) January 4, 2026
I don't get too wrapped up in conspiracy theory stuff, I mean this happened with Killing Eve, and like I thought the finale was fine, but like there's a few things making me wonder about the conformity gate thing for stranger things
— Stats (@StatsTheFox) January 6, 2026
What doesn't make sense is that the story structure they use is full of mirrors (chiastic structure used in the Bible or LotR) but their conformity ending is....missing it's mirror.
— Robert V. (@robertlittlewo3) January 5, 2026
If they are Vecna'd, then what's the opposite to this? #conformitygate#StrangerThings5pic.twitter.com/i3Kko8oC3v
watching people freak out over conformity gate and thinking there is a secret last episode of stranger things coming as someone old enough to remember sherlock finale secret episode theories pic.twitter.com/tB3tcTLU0P
— codeine (@D3ATHK1NK) January 5, 2026
Delusional Stranger Things fans are trying to convince themselves that there’s a “secret” episode coming, it’s like Sherlock all over again pic.twitter.com/FNDZIzbZ3M
— Billy Parker ???????? (@topazfriday) January 6, 2026
are the conformity gate people just having fun or should we be worried pic.twitter.com/7a1tI3VqUD
— ju ‧₊˚✩彡 hates stranger things! (@sillysuguru) January 2, 2026
The entire Stranger Things fandom currently in a collective psychosis coming up with a theory called Conformity Gate as a coping mechanism because the Duffers writing was genuinely THAT bad pic.twitter.com/p5ZgDOvUeP
— ????????️ (@loveislandtok) January 6, 2026
Everything I hear about Stranger Things ConformityGate is legitimately the dumbest shit I ever heard.
— SHAWN IN ORLANDO (@ShawnNOrlando) January 5, 2026
Sorry you didn't like the ending, they are not dropping a secret, non promoted episode to provide you an ending that satisfies your fan theories.
It would be amazing if Conformity Gate is just the entire fanbase pointing out mistakes and poor writing decisions and there is no more plans for the show.
— ToneDogg (@EpicToneDogg) January 6, 2026
Duffer Brothers watching every post skipping to the bank.#StrangersThings5#confirmitygatepic.twitter.com/niGoK7gdB0
Stranger things fans are the most delusional people of all time with #conformitygate or……………. pic.twitter.com/ARXayhNMIq
— Phwip (@Phwippy) January 5, 2026
stranger things conformity gate theory is levels of delusion i haven’t see since the penultimate chapter of AOT dropped
— s1na (@47s1na) January 5, 2026
netflix are not that smart breh pic.twitter.com/jaqSccRtGm
Imagine waking up tomorrow morning. Conformity Gate is real. You watch the new Stranger Things ending, and it's worse than the current one.
— Carmine (@CGcarmineCG) January 6, 2026
there is no fakeout finale, there is no playgate and there is no good writingpic.twitter.com/JBr4hj92qz
— tina♡ (@neonlxnii) January 1, 2026
me on jan 7 when episode 9 of stranger things doesn’t come out and we were rlly just delusional #conformitygate#fyppic.twitter.com/soFJ5B7BlN
— gigi ???? (@love4gigii) January 5, 2026
What have the creators of Stranger Things said about the ‘Conformity Gate’ theory, and rumours that a new episode is coming on 7 January?
So far, co-creators The Duffer Brothers have remained tight-lipped about the theory, as has Netflix, although HuffPost UK has contacted the streaming service for comment.
One thing it’s probably worth noting is that cast member Randy Havens recently warned fans against getting swept up in online theories, after thousands of people signed a petition calling for a fictitious “unseen footage” petition.
“Please don’t believe everything some random ass tells you on the internet,” he wrote.
All five seasons of Stranger Things are now streaming on Netflix.