This month, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance perpetuated a misleading story through the media, only to later accuse the media of spreading falsehoods. It’s confusing logic.

During the recent presidential debate, former President Donald Trump echoed Vance’s unfounded assertion that Haitian immigrants are consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio. This untruth incited a massive online backlash and escalated to threats of violence in the area.

A surge of bomb threats directed at educational institutions, hospitals, and government buildings left residents terrified. In response, two universities switched to online classes to safeguard their students and faculty after threats emerged, including one indicating a planned mass shooting.

City officials, including the mayor and city manager, condemned Vance’s claims regarding Haitian immigrants, as did Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Nevertheless, the threats continued unabated. The unchecked spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms appears to be at an all-time high.

The Capitol Riot on January 6, 2021, Fueled by Misinformation

The January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol resulted in five fatalities. Conspiracy theories and false statements regarding the 2020 election incited the insurrection.

From January 3 to January 12, 2021, over 2 million tweets were recorded using hashtags like #stopthesteal, #stopthefraud, and #marchfortrump.

However, the Capitol riot wasn’t the first violent act driven by misinformation.

The “Pizzagate” scandal in 2016 led to Edgar Maddison Welch firing shots inside Comet Ping Pong, a D.C. restaurant. This attack was spurred by false claims circulating on Reddit, Twitter, and 4chan, suggesting that a child sex trafficking operation was based there.

Welch traveled from another state armed with a rifle, ready to commit violence amidst a crowd of families in the restaurant. Even after the rumor was disproved and Welch arrested, harassment of the restaurant’s staff and online vitriol continued.

The growth of misinformation and disinformation has escalated alarmingly in recent years. According to Statista, 67% of Americans believe fake news generates significant confusion, with nearly 40% admitting they have unintentionally shared false information.

Social Media’s Role in Spreading Disinformation

Algorithms, social media bubbles, and AI-generated content have heightened the prevalence of misinformation and violent rhetoric.

Speaking of falsehoods, Mark Twain is frequently incorrectly attributed with saying, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”

Regardless of its original origin, this sentiment resonates strongly in today’s digital landscape.

People are not only sharing baseless allegations and fake news articles but are also distributing deepfake images, which can have serious ramifications for individuals unjustly depicted in these videos and images. As digital users, we know that anonymity is an illusion online, yet we often forget this while getting involved in divisive and inappropriate social media discussions.

Children observe our online actions as they navigate information. They often struggle to differentiate between truth and deception, making them particularly vulnerable to misinformation. Many do not receive any media literacy education until high school, by which point they have already been deeply engaged with social media and various news sources.

Instead of Congress focusing on banning TikTok, perhaps the Department of Education should mandate media literacy courses for students, starting in elementary school.

To mitigate offline violence, it is essential to curb the dissemination of hate-filled rhetoric and disinformation online. Our children, neighbors, and our nation collectively deserve a better environment.

Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at YSL News Opinion.