Climate Denial Responses Increase Under Elon Musk

Much has changed here since Elon took over. Based on my own before-and-after expts, climate denial responses are up 15-30x. Changes in followers are even more dramatic: Stef's analysis shows that climate accounts have seen little change while denial accounts have boomed. https://t.co/VCxpEfQxyg

— The Real Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) March 29, 2023

I've tested a few hypotheses and I think there are a few different factors contributing to this.

First, there was an exodus in Oct. I lost several thousand followers myself and about 10% of the people on my list of "scientists who do climate". Not huge but still real.

— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) March 29, 2023

Second, many of the trolls replying to climate topics these days joined Twitter within the last six months. Some aren't real, of course, but many swarmed back as previously banned accounts were re-opened and their perspectives validated and supported.

— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) March 29, 2023

Third and most importantly, however, I don't think there is much of any algorithm any more to what we see. Without an algorithm, assume tweets reach a general audience which statistically is 11% dismissive. pic.twitter.com/fcRde5B1S3

— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) March 29, 2023

Assume just a few out of a hundred dismissives are highly motivated to reply to a climate tweet, mocking or dismissing it, and that accounts for the rise in trolling we are seeing. But...

— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) March 29, 2023

This hypothesis doesn't account for how climate-related accounts have stagnated. 70% of the general public are worried ... and if they are seeing climate-related tweets, wouldn't a similar percentage follow?

So there still must be something else going on.

— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) March 29, 2023