A viral TikTok is calling out a familiar online claim — and doing so with receipts.
In a video gaining traction across TikTok, creator Lia (@liaandtheworld) breaks down why a popular argument about hurricanes "not getting worse" leaves out key details.
@liaandtheworld Back with another @lucybiggers and Roger Pielke Jr. jr fact check!! 🎯 Don't let misleading articles and graphs fool you. #climate #takedown #factcheck #debunk #climatescience ♬ INTERESTELLAR - Kore Blanco
The clip responds to another post that uses selective data to suggest modern storms aren't becoming more destructive — a claim she says doesn't hold up once you zoom out.
The video has sparked heated discussion, drawing in viewers frustrated by how often complex science gets flattened into misleading charts.
In the clip, the creator starts with the facts. She explains that hurricanes aren't judged only by how many storms form or how strong their winds are — yet that's exactly what the original post focused on. Instead, she points to factors that actually drive damage and danger for communities: heavier rainfall, larger storm size, stronger storm surge, and how quickly storms intensify before landfall.
She also calls out the heavy reliance on Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), a metric that tracks storm duration and wind strength but ignores flooding and storm surge — the very elements responsible for the most destruction.
"ACE does not tell the full story," Lia says.
That missing context matters in real life. Flooding — not wind — is what kills most people during hurricanes and causes billions of dollars in damage, often far inland. In many cases, storms are also intensifying faster, shrinking the window people have to prepare or get out safely.
This video isn't alone. A student went viral for calling out selective data in a major interview, while another explainer busted myths about the cost of cleaner energy. In both, people made it clear: They want the full story, not just a quick headline.
Commenters didn't hold back.
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"There is no shortage of misrepresented science," one user wrote.
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Save $1,000 this year 💸 "It's so frustrating how much people will delude themselves," another added.
Others expressed gratitude for the clear breakdown, with one commenter simply saying, "Thank you for your service."
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