US Edition
Extreme weather misinformation 'putting lives at risk,' study warns
UNITED STATES, JUL 22 – Verified users spread 88% of extreme weather misinformation on social media, undermining emergency responses and public trust during disasters, according to CCDH research.
- On July 22nd, the Center for Countering Digital Hate released new research revealing social media platforms enable and profit from false extreme weather claims, highlighting misinformation after the Texas floods and LA fires.
- Following natural disasters, social media platforms scaled back moderation and cut human fact-checking, allowing false claims to surge with 99 percent of posts on X lacking fact-checks or Community Notes and YouTube having none.
- The report said, 73% of misleading posts on YouTube and 64% on Meta originated from verified users, while nearly 40% targeted LA wildfires.
- In one alarming case, a man threatened FEMA personnel at a relief site and, as Augustus Doricko told AFP, the Rainmaker CEO received death threats online after conspiracy theorists blamed him for Texas floods.
- According to the report, misleading content has heightened public safety risks, impeded emergency responses and eroded trust in relief efforts, and inaccurate information during acute weather crises misleads people about the danger.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Extreme weather misinformation putting lives at risk – study
WASHINGTON — Major social media platforms are enabling and profiting from misinformation around extreme weather events, endangering lives and impeding emergency response efforts, a research group said Tuesday.
Extreme weather misinfo 'putting lives at risk'
Major social media platforms are enabling and profiting from misinformation around extreme weather events, endangering lives and impeding emergency response efforts, a research group said Tuesday. The report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) — which analyzed 100 viral posts on each of three leading platforms during recent natural disasters including deadly Texas floods — highlights how their algorithms amplify conspiracy theoris…
Examining the facts about birth control amid misinformation
The birth control pill is one of the most common forms of contraception in the U.S. But in recent years, claims of side effects of the pill have filled social media platforms, often fueled by influencers promoting misinformation. Special correspondent Sarah Varney reports on the science behind birth control for our series, The Next Frontier.
TechXplore
Extreme weather misinformation 'putting lives at risk,' study warns
Major social media platforms are enabling and profiting from misinformation around extreme weather events, endangering lives and impeding emergency response efforts, a research group said Tuesday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
