As usual, a mass shooting spawns false rumors; if they get traction in your area, consider debunking them online

"By now it’s as predictable as the calls for thoughts and prayers: A mass shooting leaves many dead, and wild conspiracy theories and misinformation about the carnage soon follow," write David Klepper and Ali Swenson of The Associated Press. "It happened after Sandy Hook, after Parkland, after the Orlando nightclub shooting and after the deadly rampage earlier this month at a Buffalo grocery store. Within hours of Tuesday’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, another rash began as internet users spread baseless claims about the man named as the gunman and his possible motives."

Local news media tend to ignore online rumors, often on the logic that repeating misinformation just spreads it. So, The Rural Blog isn't repeating the falsehoods mentioned in the AP story, but we do suggest that if you see particular misinformation gaining traction in your coverage area, you debunk it with material from AP story or other fact-checkers. And do it on social media! It can build your brand as your community's main fact-finder.

The AP reporters note, "In some cases, misinformation about mass shootings or other events are spread by well-intentioned social media users trying to be helpful. In other cases, it can be the work of grifters looking to start fake fundraisers or draw attention to their website or organization. Then there are trolls who seemingly do it for fun. Fringe online communities, including on 4chan, often use mass shootings and other tragedies as opportunities to sow chaos, troll the public and push harmful narratives, according to Ben Decker, founder and CEO of the digital investigations consultancy Memetica."