Tragedies on the coastline have become a viral product. While families deal with grief, thousands of users compete for the easy click by spreading fake videos and data. This social hypocrisy hides a real problem: the lack of investment in coastal safety. There are no solid protocols or sufficient personnel, only a spectacle that distracts from what is urgent.
Algorithms that weigh more than a life jacket 🏖️
Platforms prioritize impactful content over truthfulness. A video of a failed rescue generates more traffic than a technical report on rip currents. The technical solution involves tightening sanctions on those who spread hoaxes about victims, and allocating municipal funds to smart signage systems and hiring lifeguards. Without prevention, the algorithm always wins.
Your like doesn't save lives, but a lifeguard does 🦺
It's curious to see the same people who share a fake news story from the beach bar complaining that no one is watching the water. Next time you film a drowning for your Instagram story, remember: your phone doesn't float, your like doesn't resuscitate, and your speculation doesn't pay a professional's salary. Put down your phone and call for a lifeguard, it's more useful.