Inaccurate
The CDC reports more than 2.9 million deaths in the U.S. in 2020; there were at least 377,000 more deaths in 2020 compared to previous years
Claim:
the number of deaths in America in 2020 was not greater than that in 2019
Reviews of content from
Facebook users
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Source: Twitter/X, Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-12-31 -
InaccurateNashville bomber died in the explosion, not from COVID-19
Claim:
“Nashville bomber died from COVID-19”
Source: Instagram, Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-12-29 -
Inaccurate
The virus that causes COVID-19 exists and was identified and isolated multiple times by independent research groups
Claim:
“The COVID-19 virus does not exist”; “The virus has never been isolated”
Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-12-10 -
Lacks context
Nurse who fainted after getting Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has a history of fainting episodes; does not mean the vaccine is unsafe
Claim:
Nurse faints after getting a COVID-19 vaccine
Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-12-18 -
Accurate
The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is comprised of ingredients standard in many vaccines, including mRNA, lipids, sucrose, and salts
Claim:
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts.
Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-12-10 -
Unsupported
Dozens of clinical trials ongoing to investigate whether vitamin D prevents COVID-19; no firm evidence yet
Claim:
“Vitamin D insufficiency [...] may account for the majority of COVID-19 deaths”
Source: Instagram, Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-11-30 -
Misleading
COVID-19 vaccine candidates are rigorously tested for safety during clinical trials, unlike thalidomide; misleading to equate the two
Claim:
“Thalidomide was a rapid approved drug introduced in 1957 to counteract nausea and insomnia in pregnant women. It was [...] withdrawn in 1962 due to malformations in newborns [...] Be very careful with what’s coming.”
Source: Facebook, Twitter/X, Facebook users, 2020-11-30 -
Inaccurate
A 2008 study co-authored by Anthony Fauci did not find that masks caused bacterial pneumonia, contrary to viral social media claim
Claim:
“Most of the victims of the Spanish flu didn’t die from the Spanish flu. They died from bacterial pneumonia. And the bacterial pneumonia was caused by [...] wearing masks”
Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-10-23 -
Misleading
Brush rake attachments are primarily used to pile up heavy forest debris as part of active thinning, harvesting, and removal projects
Claim:
“this is [...] a brush rake. It's used for clearing underbrush and debris from the forest floor that builds up and creates fuel for wild fires. Now you can stop looking stupid trying to make fun of Trump telling California to rake the forest.”
Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2018-11-21 -
Unsupported
Claims that flu cases are used to inflate COVID-19 case counts are misleading, based on inaccurate numbers
Claim:
“Flu cases down by 95%” between 2019 and 2020 for the weeks 40 to 41; flu is being diagnosed as COVID-19, leading to fewer flu cases being recorded
Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2020-10-18
