Misleading
No evidence that measles prevents cancer or heart disease, can lead to long-term health problems instead
Claim:
Measles prevents cancer, provides long-term health benefits
Reviews of content from
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Source: Instagram, Social media users, 2025-02-15 -
Lacks contextSome evidence that wind turbines can harm eagles, but more are killed by other causes
Claim:
Windmills are a threat to eagles’ population.
Source: Instagram, X/Twitter, Social media users, 2025-01-16 -
MisleadingExperimental study using mosquitoes to vaccinate against malaria wasn’t funded by Bill Gates
Claim:
“Researchers Funded by Bill Gates Turn Mosquitoes into ‘Flying Syringes’ to Deliver Vaccines”
Source: Facebook, Instagram, Social media users, 2024-01-02 -
Wildfires in LA influenced by Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation; climate change a likely factor, contrary to viral misinformation
Wildfires occur when several unfortunate conditions align; they cannot be blamed on one factor alone, contrary to recent misinformation. Climate change increases the risk and severity of wildfires by worsening the conditions that lead and sustain them (e.g., arid/dry conditions).
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InaccurateTire fires in Kuwait have a much smaller climate influence than methane emissions from cows, contrary to claims
Claim:
Cow farts [methane emissions from cattle] are blamed for climate change, but there are bigger issues like people burning millions of tires in the deserts of Kuwait.
Source: Instagram, Social media users, 2024-11-23 -
UnsupportedUterus doesn’t require “cleansing”; onion tea can’t cure gynecological conditions like fibroids, cysts, or irregular periods
Claim:
Onion tea can “cleanse” the uterus and eliminate fibroids, cysts, and irregular periods
Source: Facebook, Instagram, Social media users, 2024-12-15 -
InaccurateContrary to viral misinformation, cow feed additive Bovaer shows no safety concerns for consumers
Claim:
Cow feed additive Bovaer is unsafe, makes milk unfit for human consumption
Source: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, Social media users, 2024-12-03 -
Inaccurate
Margarine and plastic are chemically unrelated substances, contrary to persistent online claim
Claim:
“Margarine is one molecule away from plastic”
Source: Facebook, Instagram, Social media users, 2024-11-19 -
Inaccurate
Sunscreen doesn’t cause melanoma; most melanoma cases are due to excess UV radiation from the sun
Claim:
Melanoma wasn’t a problem until after sunscreen was invented; low vitamin D is associated with melanoma
Source: Facebook, Instagram, Social media users, 2024-08-12 -
Inaccurate
Nicotine is addictive, drives tobacco dependence; nicotine patches cannot be replaced by eggplants
Claim:
“nicotine is not addictive”; consuming eggplants could replace nicotine patches
Source: Facebook, Instagram, Bryan Ardis, 2024-10-27
