POTSDAM, Germany — Climate change may be the cause of rising tensions and hate speech online, according to new research. Study authors from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research say incidents soar by more than a fifth when the temperature rises.
Global warming is getting people hot under the collar during conversations on social media in particular. Temperatures above 86°F show a consistent link to this phenomenon. The study authors say this applies to all climate zones irrespective of socioeconomic differences such as income, religious beliefs, or political preferences.
The findings, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, have implications for social cohesion, suggesting there will be more aggression and violence unless greenhouse gas emissions fall dramatically. Scientists used a computer neural network to analyze four billion tweets from users in the United States.
“People tend to show a more aggressive online behavior when it’s either too cold or too hot outside,” says study first author and PIK scientist Annika Stechemesser in a media release.
You can't make this stuff up, folks:
Proof that even scientists fall for the correlation/causation fallacy.
