Has reality died? There is less than a month to go until the US election. Meanwhile Donald Trump's supporters are spreading wild lies about the weather.
After the hurricane: America goes mad
Has reality died? There is less than a month to go until the US election. Meanwhile Donald Trump's supporters are spreading wild lies about the weather.
It has been a stormy month in America. Last week, HurricaneA storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction. Milton struck the states of Florida and Georgia. It brought tornadoesA strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over. and flooding. At least 16 people are known to have died. It came a fortnight after Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 230 people.
As Milton raged, misinformationIncorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies. and false claims spread across social media. Many were spread by supporters of Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020. He is running to be president again in 2024. , who hopes to be elected as American president again in less than a month's time.
Some shared videos made by artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning. as if they were real. Others used old CGIComputer-generated imagery. clips instead.
One well-known conspiracy theoristA person who believes that some secret but influential organisation is responsible for a particular event or phenomenon. , Alex Jones, called the hurricanes "weather weapons" that US leaders had set on their own people.
Even Donald Trump himself shared false claims. He said that President Joe BidenThe president of the USA, elected in 2020. had refused to talk to the leaders of the state of Georgia. He said - also falsely - that money that should be used to help hurricane victims had been spent on illegal immigrantsPeople who have moved to a country without the visas or permissions they need. instead.
Some say this is proofSomething that shows something else is true. that reality has died in the world's most powerful democracyA system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.. Millions of Americans seem to no longer care if something is real or not.
But others say we should not jump to too many judgements. There are still millions of Americans who do not use social media. And many that do have not shared any false claims. Moreover, journalistsPeople whose job it is to report on the news. are working to fact checkCheck if a claim is true or not. many of the false claims and set the record straight.
Has reality died?
Yes! We can talk about the importance of truth and even make new laws to stop it. But social media is too powerful. Lies spread too quickly online. Reality is dead.
No! Millions of people still know the difference between facts and lies. False claims get lots of attention, but not many people believe them.
Keywords
Hurricane - A storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction.
Tornadoes - A strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over.
Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020. He is running to be president again in 2024.
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
CGI - Computer-generated imagery.
Conspiracy theorist - A person who believes that some secret but influential organisation is responsible for a particular event or phenomenon.
Joe Biden - The president of the USA, elected in 2020.
Illegal immigrants - People who have moved to a country without the visas or permissions they need.
Proof - Something that shows something else is true.
Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Journalists - People whose job it is to report on the news.
Fact check - Check if a claim is true or not.
After the hurricane: America goes mad
Glossary
Hurricane - A storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction.
Tornadoes - A strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over.
Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020. He is running to be president again in 2024.
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or “AI,” is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
CGI - Computer-generated imagery.
Conspiracy theorist - A person who believes that some secret but influential organisation is responsible for a particular event or phenomenon.
Joe Biden - The president of the USA, elected in 2020.
Illegal immigrants - People who have moved to a country without the visas or permissions they need.
Proof - Something that shows something else is true.
Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Journalists - People whose job it is to report on the news.
Fact check - Check if a claim is true or not.