Vaishali Prayag, News Editor
Damage after Hurricane Milton. Photo// Shutterstock.
Recent misinformation surrounding Hurricanes Helene and Milton has taken social media by storm, with false information spreading at an alarming rate. This misinformation ranges from questions about the legitimacy of forecasts and rescue efforts to baseless claims propagated by high-profile individuals, including former President Donald Trump.
Posts promoting falsehoods have included AI-generated images of children fleeing devastation, old footage from different storms, and conspiracy theories claiming that the government is "geo-engineering" the weather. One prominent figure, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, amplified these claims, writing on X that, "Yes they can control the weather."
The virality of these posts is due in part to how social media platforms, particularly X, function. Changes made to X, formerly known as Twitter, since Elon Musk took over have allowed users to purchase verification marks, boosting the visibility of their posts. This change has incentivized the spread of misinformation, allowing these users to profit from engagement regardless of content accuracy.
Under X’s revenue-sharing policy, users with blue ticks can earn money from ads that appear in their replies. The platform recently announced increased payouts, now based on engagement from Premium members. This economic model has led users to share content designed to go viral, true or not.
False claims from X often spread to other social media platforms. Influencers known for sharing unproven theories are finding more receptive audiences today than just a few years ago. For instance, Wild Mother, a social media influencer, observed a significant increase in agreement with her posts about conspiracy theories.
Misinformation around Hurricanes Helene and Milton has real-world consequences, undermining public trust in authorities during ongoing rescue and recovery operations. According to the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, fewer than three dozen misleading posts were viewed 160 million times on X. This spread of falsehoods has occurred at a crucial time, with the U.S. presidential election on the horizon, adding a sharp political edge to the misinformation.
Many viral posts support former President Donald Trump and focus on foreign aid and migrants, even targeting relief workers with accusations of treason. This atmosphere of anger and distrust could hinder recovery efforts and erode public faith in governmental systems.
The increase in misinformation highlights the role of social media algorithms that prioritize engagement over truth. Conspiracy theories and false claims reach vast audiences quickly, often without immediate fact-checking.
As these narratives gain traction, combating them becomes increasingly difficult, posing a challenge to maintaining informed and rational public discourse.
Comments