DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the rise of a new form of climate denial on social media platforms, which aims to undermine trust in climate solutions and science rather than outright denying the existence of climate change. The guests, Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, talks about their recent report titled 'The New Climate Denial' which analyzes this shift in tactics used by climate deniers.
Ahmed explains that social media platforms and content creators profit from spreading these new forms of climate denial due to the economic incentives of engagement-driven algorithms and low-cost production of misinformation. He also highlights how platforms like YouTube are monetizing and amplifying this content, contradicting their claims of being environmentally conscious.
The conversation delves into the broader implications of this phenomenon, including the erosion of trust in institutions, science, and democracy. Ahmed advocates for transparency, accountability, and legislative measures to address the issue of misinformation on social media platforms, drawing parallels with the fossil fuel industry's past misinformation campaigns.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- A new form of climate denial is emerging on social media platforms, focused on undermining trust in climate solutions and science rather than outright denying climate change.
- Social media platforms and content creators profit from spreading this new form of climate denial due to the economic incentives of engagement-driven algorithms and low-cost production of misinformation.
- Platforms like YouTube are contradicting their claims of being environmentally conscious by monetizing and amplifying climate denial content.
- This phenomenon contributes to the erosion of trust in institutions, science, and democracy, with broader implications for society.
- Transparency, accountability, and legislative measures are needed to address the issue of misinformation on social media platforms.
- The guest, Imran Ahmed, draws parallels between the current situation and the fossil fuel industry's past misinformation campaigns.
- There is a concern about the impact of misinformation on the upcoming elections and the need for a healthy information ecosystem to maintain democracy.
- The climate movement needs to adapt its strategies and allocate resources to counter this new form of climate denial effectively.
Top Episodes Quotes
- โThey're deliberately trying to hide the fact, obfuscate the realities that climate change will be devastating to the way that our settled communities exist at the moment, will radically reshape the face of how humans live on this planet and may actually cause an existential threat to many species, including our own, and our ability to live on this planet.โ by Imran Ahmed
- โSo transparency, put some sunlight on it. Accountability, responsibility. And this year, we're going to be having a follow up conference to say, well, how have we made progress against it? Every single one of the jurisdictions that we brought together last time has passed legislation in that two years. Every single one. I'm so proud of that. But not the US.โ by Imran Ahmed
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Episode Information
The Climate Pod
The Climate Pod
2/14/24
"It is vital that those advocating for action to avert climate disaster take note of this substantial shift from denial of anthropogenic climate change to undermining trust in both solutions and science itself, and shift our focus, our resources and our counternarratives accordingly."ย
In the introduction to a new report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate US/UK, founder and CEOย Imran Ahmed makes the case that it's a new kind of climate denialism that is spreading so quickly on social platforms. Why? Not only is it due to the lack of content moderation from Big Tech companies and a willingness of cynical media personalities on these platforms to take up the denier mantle, but also an economic incentive structure for content creators that supports misinformation. Imran Ahmed joins the show this week to discuss The New Climate Denial: How social media platforms and content producers profit by spreading new forms of climate denial? and how social media platforms and legislators can help stop the dominance of misinformation online and what could happen if we don't.
As always, follow usย @climatepodย on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast onย iTunes,ย Spotify,ย Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to ourย YouTube channel! Join ourย Facebook group.
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