1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,720 All right, so picture this, right? 2 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:03,680 A hurricane rips through your town, 3 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:05,680 leaves a trail of destruction, 4 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,600 and you're left there needing help, like desperately. 5 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:10,800 Relief workers show up, ready to pitch in, 6 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,320 but then, get this, they have to pull back. 7 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:14,400 They're getting threats, 8 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,480 and not your run-of-the-mill threats either. 9 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,000 Threats fueled by misinformation, straight up. 10 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,440 Yeah, and it's happening right now. 11 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,320 Right now, as we speak, in North Carolina, 12 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,600 they got hit with not one, but two major hurricanes, 13 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,080 back-to-back, Haleen, and then Milton. 14 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:30,680 North Carolina's right in the thick of it, 15 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:31,760 trying to recover. 16 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:33,920 FEMA's there on the ground, trying to do their thing. 17 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,400 But get this, their efforts are being seriously messed with, 18 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:38,800 and not by the usual stuff. 19 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,800 We're talking toxic rumors, 20 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,200 completely false narratives, 21 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,280 misinformation spreading like crazy. 22 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:45,760 It's wild, and what's really scary 23 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,200 is how quickly these situations can escalate. 24 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,960 You've got full-blown conspiracy theories 25 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,640 about the relief effort, just exploding online, 26 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,560 and we're way past just some internet trolls venting. 27 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:56,560 Oh, absolutely. 28 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:57,880 It's gotten so bad, 29 00:00:57,880 --> 00:00:59,920 that FEMA's having to make serious changes 30 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:03,440 to how they operate, just to keep their own people safe. 31 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,400 Like, think about that for a second. 32 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:07,760 The people who are there to help 33 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,480 are being put at risk because of made-up stories. 34 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,520 It's like we're living in some kind of disaster movie, 35 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:15,640 but the real disaster is, like, 36 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,880 our ability to tell what's true 37 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,320 from what's totally made up. 38 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:21,880 And the thing is, this isn't just talk. 39 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,760 This is having real life on the ground consequences. 40 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,520 We're talking FEMA workers, 41 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,160 getting moved to different locations, 42 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:30,600 disaster survivor teams 43 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,480 who can't even go door-to-door anymore, 44 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:33,720 it's too dangerous, 45 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,720 they're being told to work from fixed locations. 46 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:37,560 So what's that mean? 47 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,280 It means the whole recovery process slows down. 48 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,120 Yes, exactly. 49 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,880 People can't get the help they need as quickly. 50 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,880 And everyone's at risk, the aid workers 51 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:45,600 and the people who desperately need that aid. 52 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:46,800 It's a vicious cycle. 53 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:47,640 Totally. 54 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,040 These delays and disruptions, 55 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,160 they just breed more uncertainty, more frustration, 56 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:53,080 and you know what that does. 57 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,240 Just makes people more likely to believe 58 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,640 the misinformation and the conspiracy theories. 59 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,560 It's like wildfire, this distrust. 60 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:00,720 Yeah, absolutely. 61 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,000 And we've got a perfect example of this happening right now 62 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,160 in Ash County, North Carolina. 63 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,720 The Ash County Sheriff's Office 64 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:08,240 actually had to put out a statement 65 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:09,640 because things got so bad. 66 00:02:09,640 --> 00:02:13,280 They said FEMA had to pause their operations in the area 67 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:14,280 because of these threats. 68 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,520 Imagine that, you're in a disaster zone, 69 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,040 you need help and you see that. 70 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,360 Talk about fear and confusion. 71 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,200 You're a resident in Ash County, 72 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,840 your entire community is devastated, 73 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,520 you're depending on FEMA and then poof, they're gone. 74 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:29,520 Exactly. 75 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:30,920 That just creates a breeding ground 76 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:32,560 for more panic, more distrust. 77 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,000 And here's the truly sad part. 78 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,160 Some residents are buying into this stuff. 79 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,240 The Washington Post had this story, a four-service employee, 80 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,520 just trying to help out, gets yelled at by a resident 81 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:42,760 right to their face. 82 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,120 The resident says, we don't want the government here. 83 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,880 I mean, imagine driving for hours to help 84 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,800 only to be met with that. 85 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,280 It's a gut punch. 86 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,840 And it highlights the human cost of this misinformation 87 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,720 in a way that statistics just can't capture. 88 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,240 These are folks who genuinely believe 89 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,680 they're doing the right thing, protecting their own. 90 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,960 But the reality is they're pushing away 91 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:05,240 the very help they need. 92 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:09,480 It's fear, misinformation, and desperation all colliding. 93 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:10,600 Exactly. 94 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,440 And this distrust in government aid, it's not new, is it? 95 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:14,440 No, not at all. 96 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:15,880 We've seen this before, haven't we? 97 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:16,760 We have. 98 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,000 After other hurricanes, other disasters, 99 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:20,360 it's almost a pattern. 100 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,360 And you know what often fuels it? 101 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,600 Political figures, commentators, pushing these narratives, 102 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,360 giving them this air of legitimacy. 103 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,040 It spreads like wildfire after that. 104 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,120 Oh, for sure. 105 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,680 We've even seen former President Trump weighing in, 106 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,320 amplifying some of these claims about aid distribution 107 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,760 that are, to be frank, completely unsubstantiated. 108 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,360 And when figures with influence, especially 109 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,040 those in positions of authority, come out and endorse 110 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,000 or repeat misinformation, it gives it this credibility. 111 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,680 That's really hard to counter. 112 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,520 Like it legitimizes it somehow. 113 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:54,040 Totally. 114 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,000 And once that misinformation is out there, 115 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:57,920 good luck putting that genie back in the bottle. 116 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:58,440 Oh, I know. 117 00:03:58,440 --> 00:03:59,920 It's almost impossible. 118 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,240 Social media has just amplified the speed and reach 119 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:03,640 of this stuff exponentially. 120 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,000 It's a whole different ball game now. 121 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:05,760 It really is. 122 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,120 And a perfect example of that Chimney Rock, North Carolina? 123 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:14,440 Chimney Rock is a textbook case of how quickly things go haywire. 124 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,200 There was this rumor, completely baseless, 125 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,200 about the government seizing property, and it went viral. 126 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,880 People actually thought FEMA was going to bulldoze bodies 127 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:23,560 under the rubble. 128 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:24,240 It's insane. 129 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:25,200 I know, right? 130 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,160 And because of that, people were calling for militias 131 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:29,640 to confront FEMA. 132 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,720 I mean, that's what's so terrifying. 133 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,720 It went from online chatter to, well, 134 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,400 the potential for real world violence. 135 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:38,960 And it wasn't just talk, either. 136 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,800 The Washington Post, they got hold 137 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,080 of this story about how National Guard troops actually 138 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,680 ran into two trucks full of armed militia members 139 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,840 and get this, these guys were claiming they were out hunting 140 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:49,560 FEMA. 141 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,520 I mean, this is what makes these situations so scary. 142 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,440 It's easy to dismiss online chatter, 143 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,600 but when it spills into the real world like that, you know? 144 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:57,360 It's chilling. 145 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:57,920 It really is. 146 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,640 Almost feels like, I don't know, we've 147 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,520 stepped into this bizarre alternate reality where 148 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,280 the internet is this funhouse mirror, 149 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:08,240 and all our fears and anxieties, they get warped into something 150 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:09,320 actually dangerous. 151 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:10,920 Unfortunately, we kind of have. 152 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,440 And it raises a big question, doesn't it? 153 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,440 How do you actually combat this? 154 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,760 How do you restore trust in these institutions? 155 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:19,280 Promote media literacy. 156 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:21,360 Make sure the right information is getting to the people who 157 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,840 need it most, especially in the middle of an emergency. 158 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:24,320 Right. 159 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,320 How do we build a more resilient information ecosystem? 160 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,320 We need some kind of disaster response plan, 161 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,800 but for bad information. 162 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:32,280 Exactly. 163 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:34,480 It's a different kind of disaster response, right? 164 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,400 We're so used to focusing on the immediate needs, 165 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,560 the physical stuff, the food, water, shelter. 166 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,080 These situations, they really highlight 167 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,880 how crucial it is to address the information needs 168 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,400 of a community, too, especially one that's just 169 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:49,840 been through something like this. 170 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:52,920 You can't just rely on those press releases and the town hall 171 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,240 meetings anymore, can you? 172 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,640 I mean, not when misinformation can circle the globe in, 173 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:58,640 what, milliseconds? 174 00:05:58,640 --> 00:05:59,200 That's true. 175 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,920 It's like bringing a rain barrel to a flash flood. 176 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,440 You need a completely different set of tools these days, 177 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,880 something built for the digital age. 178 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,000 You got it. 179 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,640 We need to be proactive, not reactive. 180 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,240 We need to invest in media literacy initiatives, 181 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,920 make fact checking more robust, work directly 182 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,440 with social media companies to try to curb this harmful content. 183 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,360 And it can't just be a one-time thing either. 184 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:22,760 Right. 185 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,640 This has to be continuous, not just something 186 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,840 you pull out after a disaster. 187 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:29,440 It's definitely easier said than done, though. 188 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,280 These social media companies, they've 189 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:33,040 been wrestling with this for years. 190 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,120 And let's be honest, the results haven't exactly 191 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,960 been stellar, kind of disheartening, to be honest. 192 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:39,520 True, but you can't give up. 193 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:39,840 Right. 194 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:41,600 We have to hold these platforms accountable. 195 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,280 Push for more transparency. 196 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:45,960 Advocate for policies that put truth and accuracy 197 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,520 ahead of sensationalism and clicks. 198 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,840 It's an uphill battle, no doubt, but it's a fight worth having. 199 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:52,720 100%. 200 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,440 And what about us, though, as individuals? 201 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:55,840 Like, you're scrolling through your feed 202 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:00,280 and you see some crazy post about the hurricane relief effort. 203 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:01,840 What's our role in all of this? 204 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:04,640 That's really where it all starts, isn't it? 205 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,800 We all have a part to play in fighting this misinformation. 206 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,920 It starts with thinking critically, 207 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,440 questioning what you see online, especially on social media, 208 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,880 verify before you share, always. 209 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:18,480 And here's a big one. 210 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:22,000 Be wary of anything that feels emotionally charged, 211 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,680 anything that just seems to confirm the biases you already 212 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:25,040 have. 213 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:25,680 Right. 214 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,080 Trust but verify. 215 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,280 It sounds so cliche, but it's truer now than ever. 216 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:31,440 100%. 217 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,280 And if something sounds too outrageous to be true, 218 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:35,760 is a good chance it is. 219 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:36,920 Do a little digging. 220 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,680 Look at reputable news sources, government websites, 221 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,240 fact-checking organizations. 222 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:42,160 We have the tools. 223 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:42,640 Exactly. 224 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,600 There's no excuse for just hitting that share button 225 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:45,720 without thinking these days. 226 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,080 And here's another thing. 227 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,480 If you do come across something that seems off, 228 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:50,840 don't be afraid to report it. 229 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,240 These platforms, they have ways for you 230 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:54,840 to flag misinformation, don't they? 231 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:55,720 They do. 232 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,440 It might feel like a drop in the bucket, 233 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,320 but every little bit helps. 234 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,760 The more we all get involved in flagging and debunking 235 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,160 this stuff, the harder it is for it to take hold. 236 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,200 It's a team effort, that's for sure. 237 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,480 But going back to those folks working on the ground, 238 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,520 the aid workers, what can we do to actually protect them? 239 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,160 I mean, they're out there literally putting their lives 240 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,840 on the line in these really volatile situations. 241 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:18,960 It's a tough one, for sure. 242 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,600 On a practical level, yeah, more security measures 243 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,920 are probably necessary, at least in the short term. 244 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,480 But if we really want to solve this, 245 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,520 we need to get at the root cause. 246 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:30,800 And that's the misinformation itself. 247 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:32,560 So we're back to those media literacy efforts 248 00:08:32,560 --> 00:08:33,760 we talked about earlier. 249 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:35,560 How do we actually make them better, though? 250 00:08:35,560 --> 00:08:38,840 We need to give people the tools to evaluate information 251 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:40,480 with a critical eye. 252 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,360 Teach them how to spot fake news, 253 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,120 how to recognize propaganda, 254 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,360 how to see those manipulation tactics, 255 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:48,440 and crucially, help them understand 256 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,680 that spreading false information, 257 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:52,440 especially during an emergency, 258 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,360 it has real world consequences. 259 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,920 So it's about empowering people to be more discerning 260 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:58,400 about the information they're consuming. 261 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,320 They've got to be active participants, 262 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,400 not just passively taking it all in. 263 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:03,440 Exactly. 264 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,320 And this isn't something you do once and you're done. 265 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:06,960 It's got to be an ongoing thing. 266 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:08,880 Education, raising awareness. 267 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,880 We've got to meet people where they are, 268 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,480 in schools, community centers online, 269 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,800 and make media literacy a fundamental part 270 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:17,840 of civic education. 271 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,760 It's like, we need to be teaching critical thinking 272 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,200 the same way we teach first aid or CPR. 273 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,200 It's that important these days, 274 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,400 especially when you're talking about a crisis situation. 275 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,080 It's about creating this culture 276 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,400 where you're not just accepting everything you see. 277 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,760 Inform skepticism, questioning, verifying. 278 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,360 It's got to become second nature, especially online. 279 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,280 And again, we've got to be proactive, 280 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,640 thinking ahead, not just reacting after the fact. 281 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:45,640 We've covered a lot of ground today, haven't we? 282 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,320 The hurricanes, the incredible work being done 283 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,560 by the relief workers, and then this tidal wave 284 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:52,240 of misinformation that just seems 285 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:53,720 to be dragging everyone down. 286 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:54,560 It's really just hardening. 287 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:55,880 It is, it really is. 288 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,880 It just goes to show how interconnected everything is. 289 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,520 You often think of natural disasters 290 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,920 as these isolated events, 291 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:04,840 but they're not, are they? 292 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,560 This case really highlights how deeply they're tied 293 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:09,880 to these social and political forces. 294 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,240 And those forces, they can either make a bad situation 295 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,720 so much worse, or they can actually help make things better. 296 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,920 It's a reminder that how we communicate 297 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,520 the information we consume has a very real impact, 298 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:23,800 real consequences. 299 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,920 It's like this perfect storm, but not in a good way, right? 300 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,480 You've got the actual storm itself, 301 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,680 and then this chaos and vulnerability that comes after. 302 00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:33,960 That's when this misinformation really gets a foothold. 303 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:35,320 It's like a virus, you know? 304 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,280 It just preys on that uncertainty, that fear. 305 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:39,120 And the scary thing is, 306 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,240 this isn't just a North Carolina problem. 307 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,800 This is a global issue we're grappling with. 308 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,480 This erosion of trust, 309 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,640 the way information is being weaponized. 310 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,120 Our information ecosystems are vulnerable. 311 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:52,480 That's the thing people need to realize. 312 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:53,800 Especially during a crisis. 313 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,280 Especially during a crisis. 314 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,720 The very systems we rely on for accurate information 315 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,760 can be compromised at the worst possible time. 316 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:03,800 It does feel like we're at this crossroads. 317 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,600 We have access to more information 318 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,440 than ever before in history, 319 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,920 but we're practically drowning in misinformation 320 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:11,000 at the same time. 321 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:12,160 It's overwhelming. 322 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,600 It's getting harder and harder to tell what's real. 323 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,040 And that's why these conversations, these deep dives, 324 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:18,840 they're so important. 325 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,680 It's not enough to just point at the problem 326 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:22,480 and say, oh, look how bad it is. 327 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,840 We have to find solutions. 328 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:26,800 And then even more importantly, 329 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:28,960 we have to act on those solutions. 330 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,360 So where do we go from here? 331 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,840 I mean, we've talked about media literacy, 332 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,600 fact checking, putting more pressure 333 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,160 on those social media platforms. 334 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,240 What else can we do though, 335 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:42,880 especially at the local level, you know, 336 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,280 to rebuild that trust, 337 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,680 to push back against this wave of misinformation? 338 00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:50,200 Well, for starters, I think we have to acknowledge 339 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:51,720 there's no magic bullet, 340 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:53,760 no one size fits all solution. 341 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:55,840 We need a multi-layered approach. 342 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,200 Something that's tailored to the specific challenges 343 00:11:58,200 --> 00:11:59,560 of each community. 344 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:01,200 We've got to utilize the strengths 345 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,160 that different groups bring to the table. 346 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,360 So like, what would that look like in practice? 347 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,360 Give me an example. 348 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:10,720 Okay, so let's say FEMA partners with local libraries, right? 349 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,880 To offer these crash courses in How to Spot Fake News 350 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:15,200 right after a disaster hits. 351 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:16,040 Okay, I like it. 352 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,480 You're getting that vital, accurate information 353 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,560 from a source you already trust. 354 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,120 Or picture your local community center 355 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,960 turning into this hub for fighting misinformation, you know? 356 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,520 Offering workshops on how to identify and debunk this stuff. 357 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:31,480 I love that. 358 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,160 Empowering those local leaders 359 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,800 the folks people already know and trust. 360 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,760 Because here's the thing, combating misinformation 361 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,600 isn't just about throwing facts at people 362 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,320 and hoping something sticks. 363 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:44,160 It's about building those relationships, you know? 364 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,680 Encouraging dialogue, creating spaces 365 00:12:46,680 --> 00:12:49,320 where people feel comfortable actually asking questions, 366 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:50,440 sharing their concerns, 367 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,680 and getting accurate information from sources 368 00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:53,520 they find credible. 369 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,480 It's a totally different way of thinking about things. 370 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,160 It's almost like we need a paradigm shift, right? 371 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,320 And how we approach disaster preparedness. 372 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,480 It's not just about stocking up on supplies, 373 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,640 on water and batteries and all of that. 374 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,640 It's also about building up our information resilience. 375 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:08,680 You got it. 376 00:13:08,680 --> 00:13:11,440 Information resilience, being able to access, assess, 377 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,360 and act on good, accurate information, 378 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,280 even when you've got all this misinformation swirling around 379 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,640 that's crucial, just as important 380 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,440 as any other type of disaster preparedness. 381 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:23,560 Because when it comes down to it, 382 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:25,000 it's about saving lives, right? 383 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:25,840 Exactly. 384 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,280 When you've got this misinformation, 385 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,560 making people distrust legitimate aid organizations, 386 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:32,800 making them refuse help, or even worse, 387 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,960 turn to violence, the consequences can be devastating. 388 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,680 It's a powerful reminder that information, 389 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:40,800 it's powerful, for better or for worse. 390 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,720 Absolutely, it's a call to action for all of us, 391 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,760 individuals, communities, institutions, 392 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,720 to step up and create this more informed, more discerning, 393 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:49,920 more resilient information ecosystem. 394 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:50,760 Well said. 395 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:54,120 Well, that just about wraps up our deep dive for today. 396 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,720 But before we go, I want to leave you with this. 397 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:57,880 The next time you're online, 398 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:58,880 you're scrolling through your feeds, 399 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:00,480 especially during a crisis, 400 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:01,920 remember what we talked about today, 401 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:05,520 be critical, be curious, be cautious. 402 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:07,120 You're not just a bystander in all of this, 403 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:08,000 you have a choice to make, 404 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,200 are you going to amplify the noise? 405 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,240 Or are you going to be a voice of reason? 406 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:13,480 Because in this day and age, 407 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:15,040 your ability to tell the difference 408 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,400 between truth and fiction, that could save lives.