### False X Post Triggers Multitrillion-Dollar Market Swings
A misleading post on Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) caused dramatic stock market fluctuations, with trillions of dollars in value swinging within minutes. The false claim suggested that former President Donald Trump was considering a 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries except China. The rumor originated from an X account called “Hammer Capital,” which has a paid verification badge, amplifying its reach. Despite having only around 1,100 followers, the post was reshared by other verified accounts and picked up by major financial news outlets like Reuters and CNBC before being debunked.
### How the Misinformation Spread and Impacted Markets
The false report gained traction after being shared by the influential “Walter Bloomberg” account (unaffiliated with Bloomberg News), which has over 850,000 followers. CNBC analysts briefly discussed the unverified claim on air, and Reuters cited CNBC’s reporting, further spreading the misinformation. The White House quickly denied the rumor, and the posts were deleted, but not before the markets reacted sharply. Between 10:08 a.m. and 10:18 a.m. ET, stock valuations swung by an estimated $2.4 trillion, reflecting investor anxiety over Trump’s tariff policies.
### Experts Warn of X’s Role in Amplifying Misinformation
Disinformation researchers, such as Kate Starbird from the University of Washington, argue that X’s structure—particularly its paid verification system and algorithm favoring virality—makes it prone to spreading unverified claims rapidly. Unlike traditional journalism, where fact-checking slows dissemination, social media platforms like X allow rumors to spread before corrections can catch up. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the platform’s influence on financial markets and the broader risks of misinformation in an era where speed often outweighs accuracy.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5355055/tariffs-markets-x-social-media.