Extremist groups and foreign governments are exploiting natural disasters to manipulate public opinion and recruit new followers through social media platforms, according to research presented on CBS's 60 Minutes.

John Kelly, head of social media analytics firm Graphika, demonstrated to correspondent Lesley Stahl how hate groups, foreign governments, and online influencers take advantage of natural disasters to spread their messaging and gain influence over vulnerable populations.

White nationalist groups, militias, and conspiracy theorists frequently arrive in disaster-affected areas offering assistance to communities in need. While these groups do provide help during relief efforts, researchers say their primary motivation is to recruit new members and improve their public image.

The phenomenon represents a calculated strategy by extremist organizations to exploit moments of crisis when traditional support systems may be strained or absent. By positioning themselves as helpful community members during disasters, these groups attempt to build trust and legitimacy among local populations.

Social media platforms become key battlegrounds during these events, as various actors compete to shape public narratives about the disaster response and broader political issues. The research highlights how natural disasters create opportunities for both domestic extremist groups and foreign actors to advance their agendas through online manipulation campaigns.

The findings underscore growing concerns about how crisis situations can be weaponized for political and ideological purposes in the digital age.