In the age of social media, where information travels around the world at the speed of light, rumors and misunderstandings have reached a new level of virality. A particularly striking example is the recent misunderstanding surrounding the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and the “end of the world” in 2023 that was falsely attributed to her.
| Claims | Fact check |
|---|---|
| Greta Thunberg predicted the end of the world in 2023. | Incorrect . Greta Thunberg never predicted the end of the world in 2023. |
| In her 2018 tweet, Greta Thunberg cited a scientific prediction that humanity would be wiped out in 2023. | Incorrect . Thunberg quoted a climate scientist who warned of the potential risks if fossil fuel consumption is not reduced. She didn't talk about the extinction of humanity. |
| Scientist James Anderson, quoted by Greta Thunberg, predicted the end of the world in 2023. | Incorrect . Anderson spoke of the need for a radical shift in our use of fossil fuels and warned of the potential consequences, including the complete melting of the polar ice caps. However, he did not predict the end of the world. |
The “end of the world” Thunberg tweet from 2018
In June 2018, Thunberg posted a tweet that, according to various media outlets, stated that humanity will be wiped out in 2023. However, that was a blatant misinterpretation. Thunberg merely cited the warning of a leading climate scientist , who warned that if we do not stop using fossil fuels in the next five years, climate change could threaten all of humanity.
According to the tweet at the time, Greta Thunberg wrote on Twitter on June 21, 2018: “A leading climate scientist warns that climate change will wipe out all of humanity if we do not stop using fossil fuels in the next five years.” Actually wrote Thunberg made this tweet back then, which has since deleted .

Distorted context and culture of distrust
Undoubtedly, this misinterpretation of a statement has served to further deepen the divide between climate activists and their critics. It's a prime example of how context can be twisted and used to create a culture of mistrust. That's the real problem. The narrative that was picked up and spread by certain media and influencers distorted Thunberg's actual message.
The true context
Thunberg's 2018 tweet was a quote from the article on gritpost.com, which referenced a talk by climate scientist James Anderson. In this talk, Anderson emphasized the urgent need to significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption by 2023 to prevent the melting of the polar ice caps.

What James Anderson really said
James Anderson, a Harvard expert in atmospheric science, never predicted the extinction of humanity within five years in his lecture. Instead, he spoke of the need for a radical shift in our use of fossil fuels, comparable to the Marshall Plan efforts after World War II.
The main points of his speech were:
- The danger of the polar ice caps completely melting if we do not take drastic measures by 2023.
- The impact of this scenario as a tipping point that could trigger irreversible domino effects on the global climate.
The irony of misinterpretation
The irony of this misunderstanding is that the real message - a dire warning about the catastrophic consequences of climate change - has been pushed into the background. Instead of a substantive discussion about the need to overcome our dependence on fossil fuels, the debate was overshadowed by absurd claims about a predicted end of the world.
Conclusion : The “Thunberg end of the world” hoax is an instructive example of how an important message can be lost through context distortion and polemics. It shows how important it is to deal with the underlying facts and not be distracted by half-truths and misinformation. Last but not least, it underlines the importance of media literacy in an increasingly digitalized and networked world.
At a time when climate change is an urgent challenge, it is crucial that we rely on science and strive for clear and concise communication. We must strive to filter out the noise of misinformation to hear clearly the real signals of science and the urgent calls to action articulated by activists like Greta Thunberg.
Another note:
Although Thunberg's tweet has now been removed, it may well have caused confusion and misunderstandings.
This incident highlights the need for careful consideration before publishing content, especially when one has a wide-reaching platform, as is the case with Thunberg. It's not without reason that the old advice of "think first, then click" still applies. This principle applies not only to the authors of contributions, but also to those who pass on content.
The ever-increasing importance of careful selection and distribution of information is clearly highlighted here. When we publish something, we should always put ourselves in the reader's shoes and consider how they might interpret the information provided. It is extremely important that we strive to post transparently and add our thoughts and context to the information. This helps minimize potential misunderstandings and ensures that readers receive the full picture of our intentions and the underlying information. In an age where information can be distributed worldwide with just a few clicks, it is imperative that we as content creators take this responsibility seriously.
Source: DPA
Also read: Greta Thunberg: Quotes, Claims, Rumors
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

