Lately, the book titled ‘The Future I Saw’, written by the Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, predicted a devastating earthquake that was set to strike on July 5. This alarming news struck fear into the hearts of superstitious yet timid travellers around the globe, leading to delayed or cancelled flights to Japan. Fortunately, the earthquake did not strike, but a heated debate was ignited on the Internet, where information from around the world was overflowing. Proponents reckoned that believing predictions assists individuals in enjoying well-planned trips as well as minimizing risks when travelling. As far as I am concerned, humans should take a more critical lens, since these baseless prophecies may stir up fear among citizens and result in economic sluggishness.

Who can deny the fact that foresight about tragedy or misfortune will create a sense of fear in people’s hearts? Nowadays, thanks to technological advancement, the Internet offers all types of information at our fingertips. With a series of clicks, a wide variety of information soon becomes accessible to us. Once these unfounded claims are initiated, netizens from all over the world will be quick to approach, not to mention the staggering speed of spreading information online. A 2021 MIT study revealed that false or superstitious claims spread six times faster than factual content because they trigger stronger emotional reactions, which vividly demonstrates that the capability to exacerbate anxiety in individuals was strengthened by the emergence of the Internet and social media platforms. Another medical research study conducted by the University of Cambridge has discovered that superstitious beliefs are often related to higher levels of anxiety. So ridiculous as it may seem, superstitious beliefs do possess such an ability to manipulate individuals’ inner vulnerability.

Beyond developing worries, unfounded foresight also has the potential to cause an economic downturn. A few months ago, the book ‘The Future I Saw’, written by the Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, whose track record of predicting the future is remarkable and highly recognized, predicted a cataclysmic earthquake would strike on July 5, 2025. Not only did this prediction strike fear into the hearts of many travellers, but it also prompted some travellers to get cold feet. Speaking of Japan, countless cancelled flights seriously crippled Japan’s tourism industry. According to a news report in Japan, the number of travellers in July had dwindled by 30% compared to last year, resulting in unnoticeable economic growth in Japan and financial deficits in various corporations in the country. Another well-known prophet, the ‘Indian Prodigy’ Abhisya Anand, who successfully predicted an earthquake on January 1, 2024, later declared another earthquake would occur in Thailand and Myanmar, which acted as an alert to deter people from travelling to these high-stakes places. Once his video went viral, scores of individuals cancelled their holidays. Given that numerous tourists cancelled their flights and hotel rooms, this undeniably contributed to the downward trajectory of economic growth in Thailand. It is then irrefutable that these unfounded claims were able to take a toll on the economy of a well-developed nation.

Proponents of metaphysics often emphasize the paramount importance of all-around preparedness before going on a vacation. They deem that superstitious beliefs are not absurd at all and cite the example that a 2018 study conducted in Cognitive Research found that AI-trained facial recognition systems could predict personality traits such as being extroverted and outgoing with 58% accuracy, mirroring ancient face-reading principles. While it is undeniable that Chinese face reading and Feng Shui contain empirically observable patterns, it is crucial to approach this perspective with a critical lens. Imagine if a girl was considered wealthy when it comes to face reading; does that mean she could simply sit back and reap the benefits? Or if the crystal ball showed an illusion that two friends could mend fences, did that imply that neither of them had to initiate the conversation?

Additionally, how could one ensure that the AI you adopted had no access to the Internet and acquired the knowledge and basic principles of Chinese face reading? In fact, there are numerous prophets in our world, and they make countless predictions every day. Hardly can one ensure that there were no predictions about natural disasters taking place in your destinations before setting off. We must acknowledge the utmost importance of prior preparedness, but we should also adopt the attitude that these predictions are not scientifically based; thus, they will not take you so far.

Although it is an undeniable fact that superstition has created a vibrant community among believers, it is my firm belief that all predictions and superstitions are baseless and adversely affect human beings in economic and mental aspects.