The Truth Behind the Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Rumors and conspiracy theories have been circulating about the recent collapse of the Baltimore Bridge. Some claim that the ship was cyber attacked, or that the ship’s captain lost control due to side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. There are even suggestions that Israel or former President Barack Obama’s family are involved in the incident.
However, investigating officials have stated from the beginning that there is no evidence to suggest any intentional action. Yet, these statements haven’t curbed the rapid spread of conspiracy theories on the internet, attracting millions of views.
This situation highlights the erosion of trust in mainstream institutions, particularly the government and media, as online platforms enable the sharing of misinformation. Shocking national events like this always generate countless conspiracy theories, which spread quickly when social media platforms like Facebook and X fail to enforce strong fact-checking.
Just 7 hours after the bridge collapse, Andrew Tate, a social media influencer with over 9 million followers on X, wrote that the ship had been cyber attacked and deliberately steered towards the bridge. Tate, who is currently awaiting trial in Romania for human trafficking and sexual assault charges, saw his tweet viewed over 18.5 million times on X.
Since billionaire Elon Musk took over the social media platform, X has been using community notes as a way for users to fact-check information. A note below Tate’s tweet on March 26th described his statement as “speculation.” By March 27th, the note was updated to clarify that Tate’s post was “misleading.”
Just two hours after Tate’s post, conspiracy theorist Alex Hook, known for his theories about the Sandy Hook shooting, uploaded a video commenting on the bridge collapse, stating, “It looks like a deliberate act. A cyber attack could have happened. WW3 has begun.”
For years, Hook and other doomsday enthusiasts have tried to convince people that the world is on the brink of disaster and they need to prepare, such as buying frozen food and survival kits worth thousands of dollars that Jones sells.
On March 27th, Maryland State Police announced that the bodies of 2 individuals were recovered from the river, while at least 4 others remain missing and may be deceased.
Mayor Brandon Scott of Baltimore called for “a little bit of civility and respect” in online discussions about the bridge collapse.
Unfortunately, this tragedy has also become a target for political attacks. Some right-wing individuals believe that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies contributed to the collapse as individuals with less expertise had to be hired to meet diversity and inclusion quotas, which somehow contributed to or caused the accident.
DEI programs, aimed at promoting the participation of historically underserved or discriminated groups, have become the latest battleground in the cultural war in America. Republican-leaning states like Florida and Texas have passed laws restricting the implementation of these initiatives.
While some Americans may laugh off these conspiracy theories, the daily flood of misinformation has reshaped the worldview of millions of others. For example, 1 in 4 Americans believe that the FBI’s mistake, rather than Trump supporters, instigated the Capitol attack on January 6th, 2021. Additionally, 1 in 3 Republican party members believe the conspiracy theory that Taylor Swift could control the outcome of the Super Bowl to help President Joe Biden.
The credibility of mainstream institutions and the spread of misinformation are challenges that need to be addressed. It is important for individuals to critically evaluate information and rely on trusted sources to avoid falling victim to conspiracy theories.
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