Twitter, the worst social network for climate hoaxes: it allows lies to be monetized and does not act against misinformation

2023-09-23 18:02:51

The big ones digital platforms They have become “accomplices” of the climate denialism. This is what a new report on disinformation y climate change which analyzes the policies adopted by the most popular social networks in the world and in which Twitter (renamed X) occupies the worst position.

The study, prepared by Climate Action Against Disinformation, an alliance of international climate organizations such as Greenpeacetakes an in-depth look at the content moderation policies of Meta, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok y X. Based on 21 requirements, it categorizes these platforms into a point system that allows you to easily see how the vast majority of them fail.

The worst stop is the old Twitter. The company owned by Elon Musk gets only one point, awarded for having a policy of privacy easily accessible and readable. However, the social network does not take measures to mitigate the spread of climate misinformation, allows users to monetize hoaxes, does not operate with transparency or inform the public of its decision-making.

The study only approves, and barely, Pinterest: most networks do not have effective anti-hoax policies nor do they apply what they promise

Twitter demotion

The authors of the study highlight that the acquisition of the company by the controversial technology magnate “has created uncertainty about which policies are still in force and which are not.” In a statement of intent, Twitter stopped banning lies about Covid-19 a few days after Musk’s purchase was made official. Protecting freedom of expression, the changes promoted since then have accelerated misinformation and hate messages.

In 2018, Musk said that climate change “is the biggest threat facing humanity this century, except for AI.” He is also the executive director of Teslaa company dedicated to the manufacture of electric vehicles. However, he has also signed misleading statements, such as when he claimed in June that agriculture “does not have a significant impact” on the climate. In addition, he also repeatedly amplifies conspiracy messages from extreme right.

You can’t say that X’s suspense is a surprise. Last December, research from the City University of London revealed that in 2022 there will be more tweets and retweets “with terminology skeptical about the climate” –850,000 in total– than in any other year since Twitter was founded in 2006. Another report presented in August indicates that 48% of environmentalists They have left the platform after Musk’s purchase.

The others are not saved

X is the worst stop, but the study does not favor the other platforms analyzed. Youtube gets only six points; Facebook e Instagram, eight; and TikTok, nine. The only one who approves, even if just barely, is Pinterestto which they give 12 points, “demonstrating that they lead the sector.”

However, the scenario is alarming. Climate Action Against Disinformation highlights that the vast majority of these digital spaces – which billions of users from around the world visit every day – do not have effective or coherent policies to stop climate hoaxes. Although YouTube, Meta and TikTok have promised changes, when it comes down to it there is a “lack of application” of rules.

This problem accelerated with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. coronavirus and with the 2020 United States presidential elections. Last year, the poor economic outlook led the Silicon Valley giants to change their strategy and adopt massive cuts to their workforces. Many layoffs thinned content moderation teams, thus opening the doors to misinformation.