The research found that over 160 million views were accumulated by 33 posts containing misinformation about the response to Hurricane Helene. This highlights a growing issue with unverified information circulating rapidly during crises. The posts specifically targeted officials with antisemitic rhetoric, notably the mayor of Asheville and the DHS secretary, showcasing how misinformation can lead to dangerous outcomes, especially when intertwined with hate.
They emphasized the preparedness of social media platforms, government bodies, and media organizations is severely lacking in combating the onslaught of misinformation and violent threats following crises like Hurricane Helene. The researchers called for improved strategies to mitigate the spread of harmful content that can spiral out of control and fuel hatred, as seen with the online attacks directed towards Jewish officials.
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