as the planet faces an increasing number of climate disasters—from wildfires raging through california’s forests to hurricanes battering the southern coastline—many people are searching for real-time updates and survival tips online. however, just as fast as alerts from authorities and weather services spread through the internet, rumors and misinformation travel, often faster, sometimes with much more reach and influence. understanding why and how misinformation races through our feeds in the wake of these disasters can help us make sense of what’s happening and hopefully empower us to spot and stop its spread.
during any crisis, social media and instant messaging platforms play double duty. they’re valuable tools for urgent communication, letting people check on loved ones, seek shelter information, or follow orders from emergency services. but these same platforms, by design, are also ideal vehicles for spreading confusion. the combination of high stress, uncertainty, and the thirst for the latest update creates an ideal environment for misinformation to flourish.
one reason that misinformation about climate disasters spreads so rapidly online is that emotionally charged content tends to catch our attention and get shared more widely. imagine seeing a dramatic video of a tornado sweeping through a city or a photo of a severely flooded street—it’s human nature to want to warn others or feel connected during a crisis. studies have shown that posts with strong emotional appeals are far more likely to go viral, whether the information is correct or not.
speed is another crucial factor. during disasters, situations can change minute to minute, and people are desperate for the latest information. unfortunately, that leads to a phenomenon called “information cascades”: when one person shares a post, others may share it too, not because they’ve verified it, but simply because it’s already been endorsed by people they trust. over time, the sheer volume of repetition can make even dubious claims seem credible.
social media’s algorithms, designed to reward engagement and keep us scrolling, can also play an unintentional role. platforms like facebook, x (formerly twitter), tiktok, and instagram prioritize content that generates likes, comments, and shares. when a post about a new heatwave or wildfire gets a lot of engagement, it’s boosted to even more people—regardless of its accuracy. that’s especially problematic when viral posts turn out to be misleading, such as recycled images from past disasters or rumors exaggerated to the point of panic.
an interesting study published in the journal “science” found that false news stories on twitter were 70% more likely to be retweeted than true stories, and it took true stories about six times as long to reach 1,500 people compared to false ones. in times of crisis, when time is of the essence and clarity is in short supply, this rapid spread of misinformation can do real harm—diverting people from safe routes, causing unnecessary panic, or even undermining trust in authorities.
climate disasters create a fertile ground for conspiracy theories as well. as fires, floods, and storms become more frequent and intense, some social media users push narratives blaming shadowy government actors, secret weather manipulation programs, or advanced military technology. one well-known example: during the devastating hawaii wildfires in 2023, thousands of social media posts attributed the fires to “directed energy weapons”—a claim unsupported by any evidence but spread widely across platforms like tiktok and x. such stories tap into people’s existing fears and suspicions, making them especially hard to dislodge once they take hold.
images and videos are particularly powerful—and problematic—in this context. it’s now easier than ever to edit photos, fake videos, or recycle compelling images from previous disasters. “disaster porn,” as some researchers call it, feeds our fascination for the dramatic but often at the cost of accuracy. sometimes, well-meaning people remix or re-share old content believing it to be current, which adds to the confusion and makes response efforts even harder.
another factor is the rise of private messaging apps, such as whatsapp, signal, or telegram. here, misinformation doesn’t just spread in public posts, but in encrypted messages between friends, family, or community groups. this makes it harder for fact-checkers or authorities to monitor and correct false information before it causes damage. a study from the university of washington tracking whatsapp usage during flooding in india found that much of the misinformation shared was local in focus but could have serious impacts—such as discouraging people from using safe evacuation centers based on unfounded rumors.
what makes this issue particularly challenging is the combination of speed and trust. disasters are chaotic, and often even authorities don’t have all the answers right away. in that void, ordinary people, sometimes with good intentions, fill the vacuum with partial facts or speculation. meanwhile, those with political or malicious motives can use high-profile events to spread narratives that advance their agendas, eroding public trust even further.
so, what can be done? there’s growing recognition that improving digital literacy is a crucial defense. learning how to verify the source of a photo, check if a quote is real, or spot signs of a doctored video goes a long way in reducing social media’s vulnerability to misinformation. organizations like first draft news and the international federation of red cross are training both journalists and the public on how to navigate information chaos.
meanwhile, major social media platforms are experimenting with new tools: from using ai to flag misleading posts to adding context or warning labels to suspicious content, and highlighting official updates from emergency agencies. these steps help, but ultimately, the responsibility still lies with users to pause, verify, and avoid sharing information that hasn’t been confirmed.
climate disasters are not going away anytime soon, and as more people turn online for answers, the challenge of separating fact from fiction will only grow. while it’s tempting to trust whatever pops up during a crisis, a moment’s skepticism—checking sources, looking for official updates, and thinking twice before sharing—can help keep your friends, family, and community better informed and safer, even when the world feels out of control. in an age of ongoing environmental challenges, that’s a responsibility we all share.