Don’t believe everything on X about the Baltimore bridge collapse🕵️
Also: Florida's social media ban for children 📱, swiping right for cash 💰, and crushing Teslas 🚗
Federal and Maryland state investigators have said the cargo ship crash that caused the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge early Tuesday morning appears to have been an accident and there’s no evidence that terrorism or any other intentional act played a role.
Those are the facts.
But if you look on X (formerly Twitter), you’ll find all sorts of conspiracies on why the vessel crashed, including baseless claims about cyberattacks, diversity initiatives and Israel being to blame. See Axios for strong reporting on this misinformation.
Many of these posts with false information came from “verified” accounts, which used to mean the accounts were vetted by Twitter. Now it just means they are paying a premium subscription for the blue check mark.
While other social media companies have worked hard to reduce misinformation on their platforms, it’s only gotten worse on X since Elon Musk has allowed this content to go unchecked.
We suggest you proceed with extreme caution when reading and reposting on X, especially from unvetted sources.
Large organizations, including Associated Press, CNN and Washington Post, have teams dedicated to reporting the latest information and are much more reliable. Local news outlets also have good information. Check out the Baltimore Sun for more on the bridge story.
News you need to know
🗞️ What is ISIS-K and why would it attack a Moscow concert hall?
ISIS claimed responsibility for Friday’s deadly massacre at a concert hall in Moscow, one of the worst attacks in Russia in decades. Here is some info on ISIS-K, the Islamic State’s affiliate group, which the U.S. says is responsible.
ISIS-K, or the Islamic State Khorasan Province, is a terrorist organization and an affiliate of the Islamic State group. It was founded in late 2014 as a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban. "Khorasan" refers to a historical region including parts of present-day Iran, Afghanistan, and broader Central Asia. ISIS-K gained recruits among disaffected members of the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban and has orchestrated brutal campaigns of violence, including suicide bombings and attacks targeting civilians in Afghanistan. The group was responsible for the deadly bombing outside Kabul airport that killed 13 US military personnel and 170 Afghans and a recent double suicide attack attack in Iran in January.
What do they want? ISIS-K aims to establish a physical "caliphate" governed by Sharia law in the South and Central Asian region. It harbors a mutual hatred towards the Taliban and seeks to expand its influence beyond Afghanistan. Additionally, ISIS-K has expressed enmity towards the West, including the United States, Britain, Europe, and Russia, and aspires to carry out attacks in these regions.
Why did they attack Russia? ISIS has held longstanding animosity against Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin due to Russia's significant role in the Syrian civil war, where it intervened to support the Syrian government against ISIS. The group has also criticized the Taliban for being too close to Russia, indicating a broader anger towards Russian influence in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Dig deeper: Was the display of beaten suspects Russia’s warning to the public? (NYTimes)
🗞️ New Florida law restricts social media access for children under 14
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday prohibiting children under the age of 14 from joining social media without parental consent in Florida ✍️(More from Zivvy)
🗞️ The US allowed a Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass at the UN. What does that mean for the war?
Following several failed attempts over five months of Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council on Monday finally passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. The United States, which had been the only remaining hurdle to such a call, decided not to strike down the resolution. (CNN)
Let’s get political
⚖️ Justices were skeptical of arguements to restrict abortion pills. Anti-abortion groups have backup plans.
The Supreme Court case is one of many tools elected officials and activists are using to try to cut off access to the drugs. (Politico)
🗳️ With Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr. makes a play for disaffected voters
Mr. Kennedy’s allies hope his choice of a wealthy Silicon Valley lawyer to be his running mate will inject new energy and financial support into his independent bid for the White House. (NYTimes)
Related: Who will RFK Jr. hurt more, Biden or Trump? (The Gazette)
Get that Bread
💰 Gen Z embraces side hustles because ‘loyalty is dead’
Gen Zers are selling services, products and advice online to make extra money and build their skills (Washington Post)
💰 Swiping on dating apps has turned into a career for some
Here's how they turned love into a job. Clients either don't have time or aren't skilled at navigating online dating so they hire someone to do it for them. (CBS)
💰 Renting is now cheaper than owning in all of America’s 50 biggest metro areas
Thanks to rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates, it’s now cheaper to rent than it is to buy a home in all of America’s biggest metropolitan areas, according to a new report by Realtor.com. (Marketwatch)
Gen Z in the Spotlight
⭐ Stuck at home during COVID-19, Gen Z started charities
Nothing has spurred the entrepreneurial spirit of Gen Z quite like the COVID-19 pandemic and that extends to launching nonprofits (AP)
⭐ TikTok turns to teenage 'youth council' as part of its latest safety push
A group of 15 teens will advise the company on issues affecting its youngest users. (Engadget)
On the radar
🎨 Finding Home Through Art, Beauty and Grime
Zivvy Contributor Brandon Killman, reporting for NPR’s Next Generation Radio, spoke with LA street artist executive director of Homeboy Art Academy Fabian Debora about his journey from former gang member to respected community leader. (NextGenRadio)
📺 First ever Asian American Bachelorette has thoughts on "cultural ignorance" in Bachelor Nation
The newest Bachelorette spoke out after the official Bachelor Instagram account misidentified her with another Asian contestant. (US Magazine)
☀️ NASA needs your smartphone during April’s solar eclipse
The agency is calling on anyone within the upcoming eclipse’s path to totality to participate in its SunSketcher program. The program will amass volunteer researcher data to better understand the star’s shape. (Popular Science)
🚗 Eight states are planning to ban the sale of gas-powered cars entirely
These states have gone further than the latest federal legislation announced last week, where the Biden administration released new rules to gradually phase out gas cars by 2032. (Daily Mail)
More from Zivvy
🚗 Tesla crushed by giant head sculpture
When a crushed Tesla becomes modern art. Here’s why a Mexican artist is trolling Elon Musk by dropping a nine-ton Olmec sculpture onto a Tesla Model 3. (Zivvy)
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Let’s say the accident is 100% an accident. No one is at fault except GPS which is 100% the reason. The result is the same as a massive terror attract. We should respond to it as such and be prepared for the next non terror attack. The result of the accident will change the shipping industry, will impact all of the USA, will disrupt tens of thousands of jobs. and can decimate the insurance industry. Well oh and of course we will build back better.