New York’s 4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Gets Predictably Roasted on Social Media

Declan Gallagher
·3 min read
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Much of the Northeast including New York City was rocked by a 4.8-magnitude earthquake on Friday, and it didn't take long for social media users to begin riffing on the seismic activity.

According to The New York Times, no injuries or structural damage was reported in the immediate aftermath of the event. “While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

But that didn’t stop many residents from sharing their terrifying anecdotes on social media, which in turn spurred ridicule from those familiar with more serious earthquakes, such as the devastating one that hit Taiwan earlier this week.

While New York City bore the brunt of the quake, rumblings were also felt by residents of New Jersey, Philadelphia, Connecticut, and even Rhode Island. According to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the epicenter of the earthquake was in Readington, in the state’s Hunterdon County.

Predictably, New Jersey took the brunt of the initial mockery.

However, it didn’t take long before the internet decided that the joke was actually on those living in the metropolitan area.

A number of New York City residents reported having the same thought at the time of impact: that the vibrations weren’t an earthquake, but rather particularly invasive construction.

Many of those on the West Coast, who are slightly more familiar with earthquakes, wasted no time roasting those who lost their minds over a “measly” 4.8-magnitude quake.

A few spectators were particularly galled since the 4.8 didn't come close to the last major Northeast quake, which measured 5.8 when it hit Virginia in 2011.

However, most users were simply impressed with how quickly the internet got its meme game on. It shows that even in dire times, we’ll always have social media to distract us.

With any luck, the excitement is over for now.