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A flood of misinformation about Hurricanes Helen and Milton has engulfed US social media, with the speed and scope of fake news spreading creating major challenges for disaster awareness and response.
As the BBC reports , the conspiracy theories circulating ranged from doubts about the accuracy of weather forecasts and the reliability of rescue operations, to false claims, also endorsed by Donald Trump, that post-disaster relief funds are being channeled to migrants who entered illegally in the US.
The very nature of online platforms, which often promote engagement over truth, allows conspiracy theories to run rampant.
Fake images and misleading conspiracy theories
At the heart of the spread of misinformation are fake images and videos presented online as real about Florida. These include fake photographic documents created using artificial intelligence (AI), videos of past hurricanes, or even scenes created entirely through computer graphics (CGI). These visualized fake news circulate widely and have more impact on users, creating a false perception of the situation.
At the same time, hoax theories, such as those that claim the US government manipulates the weather, have become extremely popular, with thousands of users endorsing these theories and spreading them further.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene put her stamp on those discussions, writing last week on X (formerly Twitter) that "Yes, they can control the weather ." Such statements promote conspiracy theories to an already predisposed audience.
New dynamics in social networks
The spread of misinformation has worsened significantly with changes to "X" after its purchase by Elon Musk, writes the BBC.
Although previously the "blue tick" was used to confirm the authenticity of accounts, it is now available for sale. As a result, users who spread fake news can buy the token, gain more promotion from the algorithm, and ultimately profit through the interaction they generate.
"X" announced that tagged users will be able to monetize their posts based on the interaction of readers who pay for a Premium subscription. This change has encouraged many users to share fake content, because this way they get more views and, therefore, more profits.
How other social media platforms are responding
Although most platforms (such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook) allow content creators to earn revenue from viewing their videos, they have rules that allow them to take away earnings or ban accounts that share false information. .
In contrast, in X, regulations on disinformation are more relaxed. Although the Community Notes feature exists, the ability to report false information has been removed, allowing fraudulent posts to remain active and gain mass circulation.
The political dimension of disinformation
This dynamic of disinformation has been intensified by the political situation. According to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, the most popular posts spreading false information come from accounts supporting Donald Trump, targeting immigration policy and foreign aid programs. The promotion of such conspiracy theories in the run-up to the upcoming US election threatens to further polarize the political landscape and undermine citizens' trust in government institutions.
The Institute for Strategic Dialogue's findings are alarming: just 36 false or abusive posts garnered 160 million views on X, showing the huge impact they can have in such a short period of time.
Implications in real life
The speed with which these conspiracy theories spread has serious real-life implications. It can undermine public confidence in services that are critical during emergencies, such as rescue operations. Moreover, it reinforces citizens' challenge to government agencies and services, creating confusion and making it difficult to achieve a coordinated and effective response to the situation.
For example, the spread of false information about Hurricane Milton, such as the alleged theories about the "betrayal" of rescuers, not only hinders the work of rescuers, but also fosters suspicion among citizens, who become susceptible to other misleading information.
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