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……”
while this asinine conspiracy crap is over the top, there is at least one reason to be aware of the EBS test… specifically for people that may be hiding a phone - for many legit reasons, including a domestic violence situation. making sure the phone is completely powered off (and will not alert) for the test may prevent a nasty domestic encounter. that is all.
A bunch of people who snuck phones into live performances, rehabs, and prisons are about to have an interesting day.
What’s that ringing nose? It’s coming from your ass?
Snape: What is that mysterious ringing noise?
Again, just power the phone off and there is no issue
I bet you a good 50% of people don’t know how to power off an iPhone anymore
It’s the same way you turn off anything, by dropping it in the toilet!
what, you guys don’t store yours in the toilet tank?
Just the burner.
I’m not going to ask why you thought of this but I want to say you’re a good egg for raising it here.
One love.
The alarm went off on my iPhone work phone, but not my personal Android. I got the pop-up on both and keep them both on silent.
yeah, the likely only surefire way is to not be connected to the cellular network (phone off).
android (and ios, I imagine) have options buried rather deep in settings to ignore alerts, but who knows how consistently well they work or are retained after an update.
You can opt out of some of this stuff.
I know Amber Alerts can be silenced or disabled from Android, maybe you disabled these as well?
I know there’s a good intention, but when they go off every driver on the road gets a crazy alert blaring at them, I’ve often wondered how often those actually help and how many accidents they cause.
Removed by mod
No, I understand their intended purpose…
I’m doubting their efficacy and curious about how much harm they cause.
Like, if everytime you heard a knock at your door, you’d shoot thru it with a shotgun. You’d 100% hit every burglar that was polite enough to wait by the door. It is effective.
The downside you’d also shoot everyone else that knocks on your door.
In this analogy it’s the consequences of every driver on a crowded interstate having the alert go off and quickly fumbling their phones to shut it off. All the people driving by schools and playgrounds, or just have their own children in the car going down a winding road.
Then them taking the time to read the text. While still driving, because if they wait till they stop driving… We lose the main reason for sending them.
I wouldnt be surprised if the number of people who have died from car crashes is greater than the number of children who have been found due to an Amber Alert.
But maybe I’m wrong, I just said I’d be curious to see what the numbers backed up.
Removed by mod
If you want to disable it on your iPhone, it’s at the very bottom of Settings -> Notifications (under all the apps). You can disable:
Did you have Emergency Alerts enabled but have “Emergency Alerts - Always Play Sound” disabled? If not, I’m curious if anyone who did can report about whether or not it was effective.