A notification set off the alarm this morning in Latina: a seismic detection app reported an earthquake with a magnitude between 4.6 and 5.1 in the Pontine province.
However, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) did not register any tremors in the area, confirming instead a seismic event at Campi Flegrei of minor magnitude.
It was a system error in the application, but the news quickly generated a wave of concern and comments on social media. Many, between irony and disbelief, shared their experience: "I live in Latina and I learned about the earthquake from Twitter (now X, ed.)".
The episode once again highlights the power – and risks – of the instant spread of information through notifications and social media, with the risk of creating unjustified alarmism.
Article published on 17 February 2025 - 09:15
It's strange that an app can generate alarmism in this way, especially if INGV doesn't confirm anything. People are increasingly nervous and anxious about this news, but sometimes technologies don't work as they should.