Climate scientists are facing a surge of climate change denialism on Twitter, prompting many of them to abandon the platform in favor of alternative social networks, according to a report by AFP.
The rise in hostility and misinformation follows Elon Musk's takeover of the platform in October 2022, and experts now argue that communicating about climate science on Twitter has become increasingly challenging.
Climate Scientists Flee From Tweeting
Peter Gleick, a climate and water specialist with a significant following, recently announced that he would no longer post on Twitter citing the rise of racism and sexism on the platform.
He highlighted the dramatic increase in offensive and threatening attacks directed at him since Musk's takeover at Twitter.
After Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter, Robert Rohde, a physicist and lead scientist at Berkeley Earth, conducted an analysis of climate scientists' engagement on the platform before and after the takeover.
His findings revealed a decline in the impact of their tweets, with an average decrease of 38% in likes and 40% in retweets.
While Twitter has chosen not to offer explicit statements about the modifications made to the algorithms affecting platform traffic and visibility, a tweet from Musk in January alluded to a deliberate adjustment.
The tweet underscored the significance of exposing individuals, irrespective of their political affiliations, to diverse viewpoints.
He said: "People on the right should see more 'left-wing' stuff and people on the left should see more 'right-wing' stuff. But you can just block it if you want to stay in an echo chamber."
Katharine Hayhoe, a well-known climatologist, conducted an experiment by posting a tweet on climate change before and after the platform takeover. She observed a significant increase in hostile comments and analyzed them for signs of bot activity.
She found that replies from apparent trolls or bots increased 15 to 30 times compared to the previous two years.
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Seeking for Alternatives
In response to the situation, climate scientists are seeking alternative platforms for communication. Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences, told AFP that he is integrating most of his climate communication to Substack, a newsletter platform.
Michael Mann, a well-known climate scientist, believes that the rise in misinformation is organized and orchestrated by opponents of climate reforms.
The impact of these events extends beyond individual scientists, as the presence of trolls and bots generates conflict and division, hindering productive discussions on climate change.
Many scientists have experienced a decline in engagement with their tweets, leading them to explore other avenues for communicating their research and insights.
The challenges faced by climate scientists on Twitter may highlight the need for platforms that can foster constructive dialogue and provide accurate information about climate change.
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