Facebook pages are using AI-generated images to trick Floridians, and a surprising number of people are falling for it.
On May 18, a Facebook page called Florida Life made a post claiming that a “swarm” of earthquakes was detected in Florida, ranging between magnitudes 2 and 4.2. The post had 329 reactions and was shared more than 250 times.
“BREAKING: Floridians reportedly felt the ground shake this morning and immediately had the exact same reaction: ‘Was that an earthquake… or just another oversized truck flying down I-75?'”
The photo associated with the post resembled a breaking news promo image that a news organization might create.
Florida was highlighted with a glowing orange border, and an interesting line of earthquakes dotted the state, stretching from the Big Bend down to Key West. Interestingly, there were 26 earthquakes in the image, not 23.
But readers wouldn’t need to scrutinize the image to recognize its obvious AI roots. Instead, simply reading the post would have made its attempt at satire crystal clear.
“Officials are investigating reports of multiple small tremors across parts of Florida, while locals responded the only way Florida knows how: somebody kept mowing the lawn, somebody blamed the gators [and] beach traffic never slowed down,” the post read.
A few commenters understood that the post was a joke.
“I am in Miami and the only thing [that] is trembling are my bills,” wrote one man. Others pointed out that the post was fake.
But the majority had some interesting takes.
“Most likely not natural earthquakes. It is most likely how data centers will be getting their water by blowing up new holes directly to the aquifer to run pipe,” someone wrote, regarding data centers.
“I live in Central Florida and I have not heard or experienced any tremors/earthquakes that you guys are talking about,” replied another commenter.
And it didn’t take long before the post got political.
“It’s GULF OF AMERICA, NOT GULF OF MEXICO,” wrote a Citrus County woman. “Nope!!!!! Been Gulf of Mexico my entire 70 years and it will stay that way,” another woman replied.
Do earthquakes happen in Florida?
Earthquakes have been reported in Florida, but the vast majority of tremors felt by Floridians comes from the Gulf, the Atlantic or surrounding states.
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was recorded in the Gulf, roughly 300 miles south-southeast of Pensacola, on March 29, according to the United States Geological Survey website.
Another magnitude 3.1 earthquake happened about 70 miles southwest of the Pensacola Beach coastline in May 2025.
The last earthquake to actually originate in Florida occurred in Jay, Florida, in September 2025. It was a magnitude 2 earthquake. Five earthquakes were reported near the same area in 2019.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Facebook post about a ‘swarm’ of earthquakes in Florida is AI slop
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
