Conspiracies about extreme weather spread faster than life-saving alerts on social media, says study
Research by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) claims that Meta, X and YouTube threaten public safety by enabling misleading claims during catastrophic weather events.
The CCDH says this practice has resulted in 'impeded emergency response and erosion of public trust in disaster relief efforts' in some cases.
'The rapid spread of climate conspiracies online isn't accidental'
CCDH researchers analysed 300 viral posts containing false or misleading information on Meta, X and YouTube during recent extreme weather events, including the LA wildfires and Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The report claims that in the wake of these events, social media platforms 'amplified conspiracy theorists while sidelining vital emergency information.'
The researchers analysed five different types of misleading claims: about the causes of severe weather events; about disaster relief aid; about emergency responses; about the impact of climate change; and about political responses.
They found that Meta (which operates Facebook and Instagram) lacked fact-checks or community notes on 98 per cent of posts analysed.
Related
Europe's summer heatwaves: Should you cancel your holiday when extreme weather hits?
'Where conflict, poverty and climate collide': Number of internally displaced people tops 80 million
X lacked fact-checks or community notes on 99 per cent of posts analysed, and YouTube had zero fact-checks or community notes on 100 per cent of posts analysed.
Instead, the overwhelming majority of posts spreading misleading information about disaster response, climate change causes, and emergency aid were left unmoderated before being algorithmically boosted and monetised, the study claims.
'While families mourned and first responders combed through wreckage after climate disasters in Texas and California, social media companies shamelessly exploited these catastrophes for profit,' says Imran Ahmed, CEO of CCDH.
'The rapid spread of climate conspiracies online isn't accidental, it's baked into a business model that profits from outrage and division.'
Social media posts claim hurricanes were 'geo-engineered weapons'
The CCDH says recent disasters revealed a dangerous pattern where falsehoods outpaced facts on social media during weather disasters.
Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in late 2024 and the LA fires in early 2025, conspiracy theories flooded platforms.
These included claims that hurricanes were "geo-engineered weapons" and wildfires were ignited by "government lasers".
Posts also sparked public anger by claiming that migrants were prioritised for aid, while scammers exploited survivors through adverts impersonating federal assistance programs.
The research found that this false information spread faster than updates from emergency officials and reliable news outlets.
High-profile and verified users spread most false information
The report's authors warn that the influence of high-profile conspiracy theorists during climate disasters is drowning out emergency response efforts.
During the LA wildfires, American far-right radio show host Alex Jones posted several false claims, including conspiracies about food confiscation and 'globalist' plots.
These amassed more views on X than the combined reach of FEMA, the LA Times, and ten major news outlets and emergency agencies from 7 to 31 January 2025, the research found.
The study also found that verified users who receive enhanced visibility and monetisation privileges are among the worst offenders.
Related
British potatoes and Spanish olives: How climate extremes are pushing up food prices
Climate shelters: When the heat is on, where can you escape to?
88 per cent of misleading extreme weather posts on X, 73 per cent on YouTube and 64 per cent on Meta were from verified accounts.
'It is appalling to see how the climate science deniers and conspiracy theorists are manipulating extreme weather events to disseminate their fact-free fallacies,' says Sam Bright, international journalism organisation DeSmog's UK deputy editor.
'However, perhaps even more shocking is that social media companies are actively profiting from the disinformation that spreads like wildfire on their platforms.
'This report unequivocally shows that climate disinformation costs lives. As extreme weather events become more and more frequent, these falsehoods will only get more dangerous.'
Euronews Green has reached out to Meta and YouTube for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Are Potatoes Healthy? 3 Surprising Benefits, From Fiber to Antioxidants
Potatoes are the most commonly consumed vegetable in the U.S., yet they often get a bad rap. Most are eaten the form of fries or chips, so many people consider them an unhealthy food. It doesn't have to be that way. Eating one medium-size potato a day can be part of a healthy diet and doesn't increase cardiometabolic risk — the chances of having diabetes, heart disease or stroke — as long as the potato is steamed or baked, and prepared without adding too much salt or saturated fat, research shows. One 2020 study found that consuming non-fried potatoes also led to higher potassium and fiber intake compared to eating refined grains, like white rice, white bread or pasta. 'Certainly eating chips or french fries should be discouraged, but there are healthy ways to prepare potatoes, so I do think that lumping them all together is a little bit unfair to the poor potato,' Emily Johnston, Ph.D., study co-author, told in 2020. 'We don't want people to fear the potato, but we want to make sure that they eat it in a healthful way and in a controlled portion size.' Research on Potatoes and Health For the 2020 study, researchers looked at the effect of eating potatoes every day, compared to eating the same number of calories in refined grains. They recruited 50 healthy adults, whose baseline blood pressure and arterial stiffness were measured at the start of the study, and whose blood samples were checked for fasting glucose, cholesterol, insulin and other markers. Those checks were repeated throughout the study. The participants were then randomly assigned to replace their usual main meal starchy side dish with a study side dish: either 200 calories worth of potatoes or refined grains, as prepared by the Metabolic Diet Study Center at Penn State. They ate this way every day for four weeks. After a break of at least two weeks, they switched to the opposite study side dish, eating it with their main meal every day for a month. Potato side dishes consisted of steamed or baked red, white and gold spuds. Refined grain options included Spanish rice, pasta, garlic bread and naan, Johnston, who is now a research assistant professor in NYU's department of medicine, said. All were prepared with minimal added salt, saturated fat or sugar, though some ingredients were minimally added for taste, including scallions, onions, breadcrumbs and cheese. There was no evidence eating potatoes increased fasting glucose levels, and there was no difference in cholesterol, insulin or other markers, the authors noted. All in all, there were no adverse cardiometabolic consequences. 'We certainly want people to eat more non-starchy vegetables because we know the average American intake is well below recommendations,' Johnston said. 'But starchy vegetables and refined grains do contribute some important nutrition as well. It's just that we need to make sure we eat them in balance.' The Alliance for Potato Research and Education, a non-profit funded by the potato industry, provided money for the study, but didn't have any say in any aspects of it, the authors wrote. Potatoes Nutrition According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, one medium potato contains: 100 calories 26 grams carbohydrates 2 grams of fiber 3 grams of protein 0 grams of fat 1 gram of sugar 620 milligrams of potassium (18% DV) 40 milligrams vitamin C (45% DV) Health Benefits of Potatoes Potatoes are high in many vitamins and minerals and when prepared by steaming, baking or roasting with the skin on, they can be a more nutritious option than refined carbs, research has found. Potassium Potatoes are a rich source of potassium, which is important for blood pressure regulation, but most Americans don't get enough of in their diet, Johnston said. Almost half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Johnston's 2020 study, the participants' potassium was significantly higher when they ate potatoes, compared to refined grains Their diet quality was also higher, driven by a higher vegetable intake. Fiber White potatoes can pack in a surprising amount of fiber when eaten with the skin on. A medium potato with the skin on can have 2-4 grams of fiber, according to Mayo Clinic. The fiber is both soluble and insoluble, meaning it both feeds the good bacteria in the gut and helps keep you regular. Vitamin C A medium potato can have 20-40 milligrams of vitamin C, almost half of the daily recommended amount, according to Cleveland Clinic. Your body doesn't produce vitamin C so you need to get it from your diet. This micronutrient is an antioxidant that can reduce risk of disease, boost the immune system and increase collagen production, per UCLA Health. The Healthiest Ways to Eat Potatoes Make potatoes a side dish composing about one-fourth of your whole plate, Fernstrom advised. Be careful about the portion size: One medium potato is about the size of a computer mouse, Johnston noted. Restaurant baked potatoes can be much bigger, so consider eating half. Stick to baking, roasting or steaming: Boiling potatoes doesn't add any calories or fat, but it leaches potassium out of them. Frying is a nutritional deal-breaker. Whether you bake or microwave, keep the skin on to optimize the nutrients and fiber. Skip the extras: Don't load your potato up with butter, sour cream or bacon bits. Go easy on the salt. This article was originally published on
2 hours ago
A livestream of deep sea creatures transfixes Argentina and sparks calls for refunding science
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Transparent-faced fish drift through dusky waters. Snowlike flecks of dead plants sift down from the world above. Soft sponges peek through the soot of the seafloor. Only occasional mutters among marine biologists break the thick silence. And somehow, this livestream of sea life in the South Atlantic feels like it has everyone in Argentina watching — or talking and making memes about it. The group of Argentine and American researchers behind this remotely operated vehicle filming life-forms 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) undersea told The Associated Press on Monday that they couldn't have imagined that their expedition would become such a sensation. It has attracted more than 1.6 million views a day on YouTube, dominating TV news broadcasts and even sparking a national conversation about the defunding of Argentine science under libertarian President Javier Milei. 'It was a huge surprise for us,' said expedition leader Daniel Lauretta. 'It's something that fills our hearts because we want to spread the word. Perhaps there are young people who are learning, maybe we're awakening some scientific curiosity.' The vast array of creatures glimpsed via high-definition camera include a placid starfish so orange it evokes Patrick of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' cartoon fame, a sea cucumber reminiscent of a sweet potato, a deep sea crab that looks like a hairy spider. The images have created a sense of collective wonder at the mysteries of the deep sea — and with it, a hearty dose of anthropomorphism as viewers assign zodiac stars to invertebrate and take social media quizzes along the lines of 'Which deep sea creature are you based on how you handle stress?' (If you ignore the world you're a translucent squid, if you explode with anger you're apparently a pistol shrimp). Often peaking at 50,000 simultaneous viewers, the livestream began last week and runs everyday until Aug. 10 for up to 10 hours as the scientists map the little-researched submarine gorge off the coast of Buenos Aires, collecting samples and identifying scores of new species. 'The clarity was incredible. The colors, the zoom capability — that really amazed me,' Lauretta said. 'I think that feeling reached the public too.' The project is a collaboration between scientists mostly from Conicet, Argentina's leading scientific funding and research body, and the Schmidt Ocean Institute Foundation, a nonprofit set up by Google's former executive chairman Eric E. Schmidt to advance oceanographic research. The expedition has also inspired pride in Argentine research at a time when Milei is slashing spending on science in a drive to eliminate Argentina's chronic fiscal deficit. Researchers and fellows from Conicet have sought to seize on the attention by calling for a 48-hour nationwide strike Wednesday. 'Argentines are very passionate about everything that happens in Argentina," said Georgina Valanci, 40, who seemed mesmerized by the livestream while crocheting on Monday. 'I think it represents a bit of the pride that something like this is being done in our country.' Milei dissolved the Ministry of Science and Technology after coming to power in late 2023. Conicet suffered a 21% budget cut in real terms last year. Salaries for Conicet researchers have lost 35% of their value in recent months. Industry estimates show state-funded science and technology organizations losing 3,400 jobs in the last year and a half. Each day as the video shows sea stars regenerating arms or amoeba engulfing prey, comments pop up expressing support for Conicet in real time. 'Long live Conicet!' several users posted on Monday.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Purespring Therapeutics receives UK CTA approval for Phase I/II clinical trial of PS-002 in patients with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN)
First patient in Phase I/II clinical trial expected to be enrolled in Q4 2025 UK Clinical Trial Application (CTA) approval shortly follows U.S. IND clearance and granting of European Medicine Agency (EMA) orphan drug designation, enabling readiness for initiation across sites in both the U.S. and Europe PS-002, Purespring's lead precision nephrology programme, targets the complement pathway known to be a driver of IgA nephropathy and is supported by a wealth of preclinical data London – 5 August 2025 - Purespring Therapeutics, a precision nephrology company focused on transforming the treatment of kidney diseases, today announces that its UK Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for a planned Phase I/II study of PS-002, Purespring's lead programme, in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) has been approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) and Research Ethics Committee (REC). 'The CTA approval for our Phase I/II clinical trial of PS-002 represents another key milestone as we complete our transition to a clinical-stage precision nephrology company,' said Haseeb Ahmad, Purespring's Chief Executive Officer. 'Building on the recent FDA IND clearance and EMA orphan drug designation, this further validates the potential of our podocyte-targeting approach to go beyond symptom management and directly target kidney disease at its source. Looking ahead, we are committed to working closely with regulators and sites across the U.S. and Europe with the view to expand the therapeutic options available for people living with IgAN.' PS-002 was developed to target the underlying cause of many kidney diseases by modulating complement activation in the kidney via precision targeting of podocytes. The programme is initially focused on the treatment of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a rare and chronic autoimmune kidney disease that primarily affects young adults. In IgAN, aberrant immunoglobin A (IgA) protein becomes trapped in the kidney's filters, known as the glomeruli, causing complement activation, inflammation, damage and scarring. A significant proportion of affected patients will go on to develop kidney failure despite currently available therapies. The Phase I/II clinical trial, which is expected to enroll its first patient in Q4 2025, will evaluate local administration of PS-002 to treat IgAN. In the Phase 1 part of the Phase I/II study, the main read-outs will be safety parameters, which, together with efficacy biomarkers, will be leveraged to select a dose for the Phase 2 part of the study. This second phase will be used to further define the safety profile and provide early markers of efficacy. Enabled by this latest regulatory approval and the recent U.S. IND clearance, as announced in July 2025, the Phase I/II study will recruit patients across the U.S. and Europe. For further information, contact: Purespring: Peter Mulcahycontact@ (0)20 3855 6324LinkedIn ICR Healthcare Amber Fennell, Sarah Elton-Farrpurespring@ Notes to Editors About Purespring Purespring is developing therapies to halt or prevent kidney disease, one of humankind's most poorly treated disease areas. Founded on the work of Professor Moin Saleem, Professor of Paediatric Renal Medicine at the University of Bristol, Purespring is the first company to successfully treat kidney disease by targeting the podocyte, a specialised cell that is implicated in the majority of renal disease. Purespring's platform approach enables streamlined gene therapy development for both acquired and genetic renal diseases, offering the potential to halt, reverse and even cure both rare and common kidney diseases. The Company currently has a pipeline of programmes in development including the lead asset for treatment of IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) and other complement mediated kidney disease. The Company also has programmes for disease caused by mutations in the gene NPHS2, as well as other monogenic glomerular kidney diseases. Based in London, the Purespring team combines world-leading expertise in podocyte biology and kidney disease with a wealth of experience in gene therapies, anchored in a culture of diversity, creativity and delivery. Purespring is backed by leading biotech investors, including Syncona Limited, Sofinnova Partners, Gilde Healthcare, Forbion, and the British Business Bank and has raised £115m ($149m) to date. For more information please visit: and follow us on in to access your portfolio
