Why fear an automated text message? The reasons are mind-bendingly ludicrous, but surf long-running waves of disinformation around 5G networks, the COVID vaccines, and a nefarious federal government intent on harming its citizens.
“These tests and exercises or drills, if you prefer, are always preceding of, or simultaneous with, an actual created crisis,” the Hawaii-based pastor J.D. Farag said in a recent sermon, clips of which spread on X and TikTok.
“The crisis is first simulated and then created,” said Farag, who has nearly 300,000 subscribers on his “End Times news and global events” YouTube page, before comparing the impending event to the Sept. 11 attacks and COVID-19.
Jason Shurka, a spirituality influencer with around 170,000 followers each on YouTube and Instagram, warned followers in videos last month that an emergency broadcast, “disguised as a test,” would send a high-frequency signal to devices across the country “with the intention of activating graphene oxide and other nanoparticles that have been inserted into billions of human beings around the world through the obvious mediums,” presumably a reference to the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Truth Social, the Trump-backed social media network, one QAnon influencer noted the emergency test coincided with rumored nuclear evacuation drills in Russia and warned, “You and your body have been continuously assaulted by every poison, bioagent, medication, and criminal warfare device (millimeter, x-rays, and microwaves) conceivable, for your entire lives.”
And on TikTok, one since-removed video included the caption, “Y’all get ready. October 4th their [sic] activating Marburg virus through 5 g signal which they are activating on October 4. This will affect anyone who took the shots.” The accompanying video featured anti-vaccine activist Todd Callender warning that a 5G broadcast would cause “liquid nanoparticles to swell” and release heretofore contained pathogens into the bodies of COVID-19 vaccine recipients, causing “a Marburg epidemic” as well as, really, a race of human zombies. (The Marburg virus is a dangerous hemorrhagic fever virus.)
On Reddit, one user shared what they claimed was a text message from their landlord, notifying tenants that “we intend to enter your apartment and shut off your power” for two hours because of the supposed fire risk to “all our multiple appliances that we furnish for all of the apartments.” The same text message warned tenants of a distinct risk for “the Covid vax’d.”
The news isn’t all bad: At least a few conspiracy-theory-minded webizens see the Wireless Emergency Alerts test as a positive development: One Truth Social user, for example, pointed out that the digits in the military times for the announced start and end to the test, 14:20 and 14:50, added up to 17 ― a supposed reference to Q, the 17th letter in the alphabet and a calling card for the QAnon conspiracy theory.
“PROOF The White Hats Control the 10/4 EAS Test!” the post announced, using a slang term for upstanding patriots.
“According to some, White Hats have full control of communications,” another Truth Social user posted separately. “If anything these vibrations will be healing frequencies so I’m told…… I for one am not taking any measures to hide my phone……”
All these conspiracy theories are fascinating to me. I legitimately read them all and think to myself “How do people come up with this!?”
I think you can get pretty close with a madlib like approach.
On date the partyleftofGOP will deploy somethingbad using techIdon’tunderstand. This is because somegroupwehate is trying to somethingbad the country, somethingreallybad your mind\guns\freedom and somethingelsebad your kids.
All this is because Biden\Obama\AOC is being controlled by Antifa\TheGayAgenda\Globalists thanks to information carelessly left on HunterBiden’sLaptop.
PS: Hillary’sEmails
I’m going to fill it out like I did in 3rd grade:
On 4/20 the Green Party will deploy farts using VR. This is because butts is trying to fart on the country, poop on your mind\guns\freedom and pee on your kids.
All this is because Biden\Obama\AOC is being controlled by Antifa\TheGayAgenda\Globalists thanks to information carelessly left on butts.
Personally I store all my information on butts.
I love it!
As far as the “tech I don’t understand” part is concerned, I think it’s a combination of news media misreporting scientific discoveries/developments and a “telephone game” on social media.
Science says that mRNA in vaccines is used by the body to create proteins that fool the immune system into mounting a response. The media reports “mRNA enters the body and the changes the immune system.” (Technically correct, but they left out some crucial steps.)
Then someone reads it, misunderstands the science entirely and thinks it changes your DNA. This gets passed around, changing slightly each time ala the telephone game until its “nanoparticles in the vaccine will turn you into a zombie.”
At each stage, the truth can be found with a minor amount of actual research. (As opposed to “what does my MAGA uncle say on Facebook?”) But the Telephone Game Version lines up with their view of Liberals Bad so they accept it as truth. Then they pass it on and it mutates once more.
I used to spend time reading through r/conspiracy because of how entertaining it was reading them all.