Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
The photo was jarring. It showed a young girl holding her small dog on a boat, awaiting rescue after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina.
Note: This image was created with artificial intelligence and does not represent hurricane damage at Walt Disney World Resort. Credit: @jaybaskinforreal via TikTok
The nation was devasted as this photo circulated on social media. There was no slight issue: the photo was completely fake.
Donald Trump used photos like these to criticize Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s response to Hurricane Helene. Still, the photo was part of a larger plan, and many Americans bought it.
That photo, like many other deep fakes on social media, was created by Russian bots to help stir discontent among Americans. In the wake of Hurricane Milton, Walt Disney World is also being dragged into it.
This is Walt Disney World in Orlando now Water World.
Florida Strong, we will get up stronger than ever. 💪🙏🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/WTRUaA1hu5— Eve🌹 (@EvelynS45238640) October 10, 2024
Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to Central Florida, with a storm surge causing flooding in Tampa Bay and winds damaging Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays. However, the damage to the Walt Disney World Resort seems minimal.
Even before the storm ended, the disinformation campaign on social media had already started. Some were clearly fake, including one that showed Pluto rescuing a girl from the flooding at the Magic Kingdom.
However, upon closing examination, Pluto had human legs and was absolutely jacked. Although that is obviously an AI-generated image, others aren’t so clear.
These other images show flooding and damage at the Magic Kingdom, with Main Street, U.S.A., flooded. Some people believed these images were real and commented on the destruction of the beloved American icon.
#WATCH : Hurricane Milton has flooded Disney World in Orlando#flwx #hurricane #Milton #HurricaneWarning #HurricaneAlert #HurricaneMilton #DisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/IbDsBQZjro
— upuknews (@upuknews1) October 10, 2024
While some people commented on the tragedy, others said that Disney “got what they deserved,” clearly feeding into the discontent that Russia wanted from these images.
Moustafa Ayad, ISD executive director for Africa, the Middle East and Asia, told The Guardian:
It’s well-known that Kremlin-backed outlets and the Kremlin itself often exploit natural disasters and political crises to sow chaos and spread misinformation for their own gain. The use of this image is no different.
Credit: Inside The Magic
Like President Abraham Lincoln said, “Don’t believe everything you see on social media.” In this case, users should pay close attention to all disinformation on these platforms, especially in an election year.
While most Disney fans know these are fake, some still believe that Disney World was flooded and, in some cases, “got what it deserved.”
Do you often fall for fake social media posts?
