Claim reviews
1996 paper is about human evolution, not potential for genius
CLAIM
“Black Africans possess more DNA series than any other group on earth”; The more DNA series you have, the greater your potential for genius”; “they copyrighted that study, to hide that truth”
SOURCE: Facebook Users , Facebook
Published: 17 Sep 2021
VERDICT
Male sterility isn’t a proven side effect of ivermectin, contrary to claims by social media users
CLAIM
Ivermectin sterilizes the majority (85%) of men that take it
SOURCE: Facebook users, Twitter users, Facebook, Twitter
Published: 14 Sep 2021
VERDICT
A person’s decision not to vaccinate affects others, as unvaccinated people are more likely to get infected and spread COVID-19
CLAIM
“the only person ‘hurting’ if I don’t get the vaccine is me. So mind your own business”
SOURCE: Brenna Spencer, Facebook, Twitter
Published: 06 Sep 2021
VERDICT
Claims that people were being killed by zidovudine (AZT) instead of AIDS are unsubstantiated
CLAIM
One time in the 80’s-90’s, people died from AZT and not the actual AIDS virus; Anthony Fauci pushed this treatment
SOURCE: Facebook Users , Facebook
Published: 06 Sep 2021
VERDICT
Germany hasn’t stopped COVID-19 vaccination, contrary to claims made about a simulation game event called “BasisCamp”
CLAIM
Germany suspended COVID-19 vaccinations
SOURCE: Anonymous, BrandNewTube
Published: 03 Sep 2021
VERDICT
Excess mucus is a common symptom rather than cause of disease; soursop is not a cancer treatment
CLAIM
“Mucus is the cause of all diseases”; “Soursop [is] 10,000 times more effective than chemotherapy for cancer”
SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook
Published: 02 Sep 2021
VERDICT
Cancer and heart disease remain the two leading causes of death in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic
CLAIM
“No one has died of cancer or heart disease since the COVID-19 thing started”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 30 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Vaccine boosters help maintain protection provided by initial vaccination; boosters have been used for routine vaccinations like tetanus and polio for decades
CLAIM
A COVID-19 booster means that the initial vaccination didn’t work
SOURCE: Facebook users , Facebook
Published: 28 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Multiple scientific studies suggest that masking can help limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools, contrary to claim in Federalist article
CLAIM
“There’s no science behind masks on kids”.
SOURCE: Shawn Fleetwood, The Federalist
Published: 27 Aug 2021
VERDICT
The development of mRNA vaccines was a collaborative effort; Robert Malone contributed to their development, but he is not their inventor
CLAIM
“Dr. Malone is the inventor of mRNA vaccines”
SOURCE: Robert Malone, Twitter
Published: 26 Aug 2021
VERDICT