Eight of the top 10 online shows are spreading climate misinformation. A new kind of climate denial has emerged. Rather than outright deny the problem, today’s most popular online influencers focus on other false or misleading messages.
These messages include “Climate solutions don’t work,” “Climate change has some benefits,” and pollution reduction policies are “tools for governments to control people.” These new forms of denial made up 70% of all such claims on YouTube in 2023, up from 35% in 2018. About one in five U.S. adults and 37% of adults under 30 say they regularly get news from social media influencers. Of the 10 most popular online shows, eight have spread false or misleading information about climate change.
Recent investigations have highlighted that right-leaning influencers now dominate digital media like podcasts and streams. Much of the climate-related misinformation spread on these shows focuses on denying the effectiveness of solutions and arguing that climate change is beneficial. Influencers like Jordan Peterson and Charlie Kirk have also framed climate change concerns as part of a “pseudo-religion.” Charlie Kirk has mentioned that “Climate change is the wrapper around Marxism.”
The Media Matters analysis found that about 60% of the most popular online shows were ideologically right-leaning and have an outsized influence.
Spreading climate misinformation online
They have about five times the number of followers than left-leaning shows. Large advertising budgets play a significant role in this popularity.
Major conservative players have massively invested in building and marketing their messages online. PragerU, for instance, spends about half of its annual budget on promoting new climate denial. Investments from wealthy families, such as the Kochs, the Mercers, the Thiels, the Murdochs, and the Uihleins, have significantly boosted these media platforms.
The Daily Wire, co-founded by Ben Shapiro, is supported by Texas fracking billionaires Dan and Farris Wilks, and has expanded into a multimedia empire with a substantial online following. Despite the barrage of misinformation, the majority of Americans understand the reality of climate change and want action. It’s crucial to acknowledge that while misinformation has a large platform, the truth also has a strong base of support.
This story is part of a global media collaboration highlighting the fact that the vast majority of people worldwide care about climate change and want their governments to take action.
Image Credits: Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
