GEOLOGIC MISINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: THE FACEBOOK PROBLEM

Public media on the internet provide information about major geologic issues. Some citizens welcome these posts which may be criticized by others who pass misinformation and anti-science by denial, bad faith conspiracies or beliefs without supporting evidence or logic. Geologic issues, say climate change, sea level rise, age dating, or conservation of nature, discussed in common language, receive a tsunami of responses of three sorts: 1. Acceptance of the post; 2. Polite criticism of the idea, allowing discussion; 3. Nasty, mean, even threatening, but irrelevant posts by trolls who wish to trash the original topic and author by name-calling, demands to leave the state or FB, reference to conspiracy websites for support, criticism of the author’s employer, and a multitude of other slanderous posts. These negative responses often come from people who are not usual posters on a particular FB page. In spite of the interest shown by the first two kinds of posters, the entire thread may be deleted by FB which terminates further discussion and reference. The third category wins and no progress is made towards an understanding of the geologic phenomenon or observation in spite of the fact posters in the other two categories might like more. We should therefore deal with negative posts by replying with evidence or a question done politely and with grace. Insist that the posters present alternative hypotheses that account for the evidence. You can’t win, but other readers may learn through your response. Should FB take your thread down, object to the administrator of the FB page with a comment that the topic and its solutions are based on demonstrated scientific evidence, not personal opinion or politics. Suggest that the negative, nasty and irrelevant posts be deleted as they contribute nothing, thus eliminating objections to entire thread. This is a continuing and developing problem influencing a large number of people. And AI will likely complicate these issues as it becomes more widely used.