Listen to the article
Social media platforms are failing to combat weather misinformation during disasters, allowing conspiracy theories to spread faster than legitimate emergency information, according to new research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).
The report, released as Texas faces deadly floods, examined how misinformation proliferated during recent climate disasters including the Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The findings highlight a troubling pattern where falsehoods overwhelm factual updates from authorities, potentially endangering lives during critical emergency situations.
“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,” said 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.”
Ahmed noted that during the LA fires earlier this year, scammers placed social media ads impersonating federal emergency aid agencies to steal personal information from victims, further compounding their suffering.
The CCDH analysis of 100 viral posts across major platforms during recent extreme weather events revealed alarming statistics. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) lacked fact-checks or community notes on 98% of examined posts, while Twitter (now X) failed to address misinformation on 99% of posts. YouTube performed worst, with no fact-checking mechanisms applied to any of the analyzed content.
Perhaps most concerning is the outsized influence of high-profile conspiracy theorists during these emergencies. For example, during the LA wildfires in January 2025, Alex Jones’ false claims about food confiscation and “globalist” plots garnered more views on X than the combined reach of FEMA, the LA Times, and ten major news outlets and emergency agencies.
The research also found that verified users with enhanced visibility privileges are among the worst spreaders of misinformation: 88% of misleading extreme weather posts on X came from verified accounts, along with 73% on YouTube and 64% on Meta.
Sam Bright, DeSmog’s UK deputy editor, expressed alarm at the findings: “It is appalling to see how climate science deniers and conspiracy theorists are manipulating extreme weather events to disseminate their fact-free fallacies. However, perhaps even more shocking is that social media companies are actively profiting from the disinformation that spreads like wildfire on their platforms.”
The misinformation typically falls into several categories. During recent hurricanes and wildfires, conspiracy theorists spread baseless claims that hurricanes were “geo-engineered weapons” and that wildfires were ignited by “government lasers.” Such false narratives spread faster than legitimate updates from emergency officials.
Other misleading claims focused on disaster relief aid, including false information about FEMA relief fund availability and eligibility criteria. These falsehoods have real-world consequences—in one case, a man influenced by online lies was arrested for threatening FEMA personnel at a hurricane relief site.
Political misinformation also flourished, with false claims that migrants were prioritized for disaster aid inciting public anger and undermining trust in relief efforts. Other posts falsely claimed the Biden administration halted aid to hurricane victims or that LA wildfire water shortages resulted from environmental policies protecting fish species.
The report comes at a critical moment as climate change intensifies extreme weather events across the United States and globally. The proliferation of misinformation during disasters represents a growing threat to public safety, as accurate and timely information becomes increasingly vital during emergencies.
As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe due to climate change, the CCDH research suggests that social media platforms must take more responsibility for preventing the spread of dangerous falsehoods during disasters. Without better safeguards and more aggressive fact-checking, these platforms risk becoming vectors for misinformation that can hinder emergency response efforts and put vulnerable populations at even greater risk.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
This is a worrying trend that deserves more attention. The spread of false claims during disasters can have dire consequences, and social media companies need to be held accountable for the role their platforms play in enabling the proliferation of misinformation.
The business model of social media companies that profits from outrage and division is a major part of the problem here. Until their incentives are realigned to prioritize public safety over engagement metrics, these issues will likely persist.
You raise a good point. Fundamental changes to the underlying business models and algorithms of these platforms may be necessary to address the root causes of this challenge.
It’s frustrating to see social media companies prioritize profits over public safety, especially during critical emergency situations. Stricter regulations and enforcement may be needed to ensure these platforms take more responsibility for the content they host and the impact it can have.
This highlights the complex challenges social media platforms face in managing misinformation, particularly during fast-moving, high-stakes events. While they’ve made some progress, there’s clearly more work to be done to safeguard the integrity of emergency communications.
It’s troubling to hear that scammers are exploiting these disasters for their own gain. Preying on vulnerable victims in the aftermath of a tragedy is truly despicable. Stronger measures are needed to protect people and ensure emergency information reaches those who need it most.
You’re absolutely right. Authorities and platforms need to work together to quickly identify and shut down these types of scams. Protecting the public should be the top priority.
This is a concerning trend that could have serious implications for public safety. Misinformation during emergencies can lead to confusion and even put lives at risk. Social media platforms need to do more to combat the spread of falsehoods and prioritize authoritative sources of information.