Lacks context
Flu vaccine reduces risk of flu-related illness and hospitalization, even though it hasn’t eradicated flu
Claim:
“We’ve had the flu vaccine for 78 years. We still have the flu.”
Reviews of content from
Social media user
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Source: Threads, Social media user, 2025-02-08 -
Mostly accurateInfants younger than 6 months had the second highest COVID-associated hospitalization rate for most of the pandemic
Claim:
“Babies under 6 months have the second highest hospitalization rate after the elderly”
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2025-02-06 -
MisleadingVaccines don’t cause mercury toxicity; the mercury compound present in some vaccines is different from the one in seafood
Claim:
“Doctors: don't eat fish when you're pregnant to avoid mercury getting into your baby Also doctors: vaccines containing mercury are safe to inject into your baby”
Source: Threads, Social media user, Kaylee Winfield, @mommavspharma, 2025-01-25 -
Mostly correctGrapefruit can cause negative effects when mixed with certain antidepressants, such as sertraline (Zoloft)
Claim:
Eating grapefruit while using antidepressants can cause overdose, other complications
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2025-01-13 -
UnsupportedClaim that herbs and mushrooms listed in Nicole Apelian’s book “The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies” are cures for herpes and HIV is baseless
Claim:
Several natural products like plants and mushrooms are a cure for herpes and HIV infection
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-12-17 -
UnsupportedViral claim using Dr. Sebi image misleads on the effects of cortisol in the body, recommends unproven moringa supplement to lower cortisol levels
Claim:
Moringa supplements lower cortisol levels, improve overall health
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-10-05 -
Misleading
Higher COVID-19 death toll under Biden than Trump reflects longer presidential term spent managing the COVID-19 pandemic
Claim:
More deaths from COVID-19 occurred during Biden's administration than Trump's
Source: Threads, Social media user, 2024-09-10 -
Unsupported
No evidence that red onion and Coca-Cola infusion cures the flu; drinking soda is linked to adverse health outcomes
Claim:
Drinking an infusion of red onion and Coca-Cola can cure the flu
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-08-31 -
Flawed reasoning
People experiencing homelessness died more frequently from COVID-19 than the general population
Claim:
COVID-19 was not deadly, otherwise homeless people would not have survived the pandemic
Source: Threads, Social media user, 2024-08-21 -
Unsupported
Soap-soaked cotton balls aren’t a reliable method for removing ticks, contrary to recurring viral claim
Claim:
Using a soap-soaked cotton ball is a safe and easy way to remove ticks
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-08-04
