Greta Thunberg gives the Corona expert and gets ridicule: "What's this about?"

Greta Thunberg was featured on CNN on the topic of coronavirus. This sparked a controversy online.

• The US TV broadcaster CNN invited Greta Thunberg to an interview on coronavirus
• Greta Thunberg appealed to the young people not to misunderstand and to listen to the experts
• There was a dispute on the Internet over the interview over Greta's competence in the corona crisis

Washington / Sweden - It is one of the many interviews about the corona pandemic that the US broadcaster CNN conducts. The title: " Coronavirus: facts and fears ". But the guest is unusual: In addition to top-class representatives of the American health authorities, Greta Thunberg is invited. She uses the interview for an appeal to the youth. But the subsequent online dispute is more between feminists and scoffers. It's about: Greta's Corona competence . 

Greta Thunberg exhorts adolescents to stick to the experts about the corona virus

"This seems to be a time when the global network of scientists is so incredibly important and you can see how important it is to simply listen to what they say," the moderator introduced. And Greta Thunberg agrees: you can see that the voice of science is louder than before. "People realize that we are dependent on science," she says. "I hope it stays that way and will continue in other crises like the climate crisis and the environmental crisis ."

The 17-year-old, who otherwise makes passionate speeches for climate protection, also appealed to the young people and children to keep their physical distance in Corona times and to protect themselves and others. "There is a kind of myth at the moment that children are not affected by this virus," she said. You have to make sure that this misinformation does not establish itself.

Greta Thunberg reaps ridicule for interview on corona virus: "No Corona Expert"

"We young people have a very big responsibility because we may not feel the symptoms as bad as many others," says climate protector * Thunberg. "So we have to be extra careful because our actions can make the difference between life and death for many others ."

So much for your contribution. The reaction in the network follows immediately. Hundreds of comments on Twitter included the question: " What's this about ?" Even international celebrities are mocking. Donald Trump Junior , the son of the US President tweeted ironically: “Greta Thunberg already had a remarkable career as a teenager. Today she is a world-renowned infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist AND a leading scientific voice in global climate policy. Wow, just so impressive. ”

Greta Thunberg having a remarkable career already in that as a teenager she's now a world renowned infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist AND a leading scientific voice when it comes to global climate policy.
Just wow so impressive. https://t.co/398T4wXDry

Greta Thunberg gets into feminism discussion with a corona interview

Others, including well-known American journalists like Jessica Huseman, simply post question marks .

....? https://t.co/d6chNfZmXY

And in Germany, too, the report triggers numerous smug comments: "If, according to CNN, Greta Thunberg is an expert on corona, Pietro Lombardi is also an expert in quantum physics ...", writes one user. 

What is special about this debate about Greta on the net is that it is not like most debates about Greta Thunberg on the net. It's not about climate protection *, it's not about age. This is also indicated by unusual advocates.

Bestselling author Roxane Gay writes: “Unqualified men can talk endlessly in the media every day. But with Greta Thunberg that should go too far ?! "

Unqualified men appear on cable all day every day, bloviating endlessly, but Greta Thunberg is a bridge too far? OK.

Writer Charlotte Clymer adds: "... And that's not supposed to be sexism ! You don't believe that yourself. "

Let me see if I understand this: Dr. Oz and countless other men have been running in these cable news circuits for years spouting dangerous nonsense with few consequences, but a lot of y'all decided 17 year-old Greta Thunberg is a step too far. And that's not sexism? Do tell.

The corona virus is apparently also transmitted via aerosols - this would make the distance rule ad absurdum.

Video: Greta Thunberg goes into quarantine as a precaution because of possible corona symptoms

* Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network.