A Facebook post published on February 11, 2023, at 9:43 PM Libyan time, claimed that NASA had announced a large asteroid would collide with Earth's orbit in five days, sparking concern about potential damage. The post garnered approximately 2.5 thousand interactions and 718 comments by February 15, 2023. Similar claims were found on various Arabic-speaking websites and social media platforms.
An investigation by Annir, a Libyan fact-checking organization, revealed that the claims were false. Research using keywords from the circulating claims led to NASA's Asteroid Watch Twitter account, which had provided accurate information about the asteroid 199145 YYY1282005. According to NASA, the asteroid would pass close to Earth on February 16, but at a safe distance of 12 times farther away than the Moon.
Further investigation showed that the asteroid's data could be tracked on the interactive webpage of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program. The data indicated that the asteroid's closest approach to Earth would be approximately 4.59 million kilometers, equivalent to about 12 times the distance between the Moon and Earth, which is roughly 384,400 kilometers.
Annir's research team concluded that the claims were misleading, as they took the information out of context. The false claims caused unnecessary concern among social media users, highlighting the importance of fact-checking and verifying information before sharing it online.
This incident is not an isolated case of misinformation in Libya. Previously, Annir had debunked other false claims, such as the alleged evacuation of the city of Al-Asabah due to fires and a photo of citizens celebrating receiving their salaries at a bank in Gharyan.
The spread of misinformation on social media platforms can have serious consequences, including causing panic and undermining trust in credible sources. Annir's efforts to fact-check and verify information aim to mitigate the impact of false claims and promote a more informed public discourse.
In response to the false asteroid claims, Annir urges social media users to be cautious when sharing information and to verify facts through reputable sources before spreading them online. By doing so, individuals can help prevent the dissemination of misinformation and promote a more accurate understanding of current events.
Key points
- A Facebook post claiming a massive asteroid would collide with Earth on February 16, 2023, was shared on Libyan social media platforms, sparking concern and misinformation.
- NASA's Asteroid Watch Twitter account provided accurate information about the asteroid, stating it would pass close to Earth at a safe distance of 12 times farther away than the Moon.
- Annir's investigation and fact-checking efforts helped to debunk the false claims and promote a more informed public discourse.
