Conspiracy theorists have been having a field day lately, and as usual it surrounds Covid and the US government.

On October 4, 2023, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) plans on releasing an emergency alert to all cell phones, radios, TVs, and other wireless devices. 

No need to freak out, though. This will just be a simple drill, akin to our fire and lockdown drills that we do so often at school. 

It should occur at 2:20pm, near the end of the school day. Every cellphone that is turned on and close to a cell tower will receive the alert once within the approximately 30 minutes that the broadcast lasts. 

IPAWS (the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) needs to be tested every couple of years, in order to maximize the public’s knowledge of life-saving information. 

However, no matter how clear FEMA was that this is a drill, some people, around 84% of Americans according to the Pew Research Center, no longer trust the government to do what is right.

Many anti-vaxxers and QAnon followers say that, for anyone who got the Covid-19 vaccine, the alert will awaken nanoparticles such as graphene oxide (GO) within the body. 

GO is a compound that is toxic to humans. Don’t fear, though. This claim is many things, but it’s not the truth.

First off, none of the approved Covid-19 vaccines even include GO. There is no possible way for the alert to activate particles that are nonexistent. 

Secondly, GO doesn’t work like that. In an ABC News article, Julia Greer, a materials science professor at the California Institute of Technology, completely debunked the theory, explaining the science.

When you spread disinformation on the internet, it only breeds fear. What this story can teach us is that you cannot believe everything you read online. 

Be careful when using social media, as some believe that likes and views matter more than the truth.

Click these links to learn more about FEMA and the emergency alert.