FACT CHECK: Wisdom teeth removal & 6 viral false claims about it
Published on : Oct 19, 2024A video has been going viral on Instagram, which advocates...
: Allen Joe Mathew 
FACT CHECK: Will a concoction of onions in Coca-Cola help manage diabetes?
Published on : Oct 8, 2024CLAIM: Consuming onions in Coca-Cola can cure diabetes and significantly...
: Allen Joe Mathew
FACT CHECK: Triglycerides based fish oils are of superior quality and do not react with thermocol?
Published on : Oct 4, 2024Claim: Fish Oil quality can be determined using a thermocol...
: Allen Joe Mathew
FACT CHECK: Viral claim about Leech Therapy for Cervical Pain lacks scientific backing
Published on : Oct 4, 2024CLAIM: Leech Therapy cures cervical pain. FACT: There is...
: Allen Joe Mathew
FACT CHECK: US Vice President Hopeful JD Vance’s Disease Surge Claims Contradict Health Data
Published on : Sep 30, 2024CLAIM: JD Vance asserts a "massive rise" in communicable diseases...
: Allen Joe Mathew
FACT CHECK: Should you avoid caffeine completely when trying to conceive?
Published on : Sep 25, 2024CLAIM: Caffeine should not be consumed at all while trying...
: Allen Joe Mathew
FACT CHECK: Should you tie and suck a snake bite, as shown in movies?
Published on : Sep 25, 2024CLAIM If bitten by a snake, tie off that part,...
: First Check Team
FACT CHECK: Does using a laptop on lap affect male fertility?
Published on : Sep 24, 2024CLAIM: Holding a laptop on lap for extended periods leads...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Study: Depression & autoimmune disease are linked in new mothers, pregnant women
Published on : Sep 24, 2024Pregnancy and motherhood can be a beautiful time- the joys...
: Allen Joe Mathew
FACT CHECK: Can cancer be cured with lemon water?
Published on : Sep 24, 2024CLAIM: Drinking lemons soaked in hot water can cure cancer...
: Pallav Vyas
FACT CHECK: Does moderate drinking have health benefits?
Published on : Sep 17, 2024CLAIM: No amount of alcohol consumption, light to moderate, can...
: Pallav Vyas
FACT CHECK: Can garlic lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease risk?
Published on : Sep 11, 2024CLAIM: Garlic shots help lower blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and...
: Pallav Vyas
Role of accredited platforms in health information – An excerpt from First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Aug 31, 2024“Only accredited digital healthcare platforms with medicos on the panel...
: Dr Chandrika Kambam
Lessons from the latest health controversy on social media
Published on : Jul 26, 2024Recent controversy involving Indian actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dr...
: Tej Kumar
Fact-check: Women who carry the DNA of men
Published on : Jul 25, 2024The presence of male cells in women could be attributed...
: Allen Joe Mathew
How to cultivate a healthier information ecosystem – An excerpt from First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Jul 20, 2024Governments and private sector must work together to create efficient...
: Dr. Maulik Patel
FDA updates guidelines to combat misinformation on medical devices, drugs
Published on : Jul 12, 2024The revised draft guidance sets out a policy to support...
: First Check Team
GPs can play a crucial role in the fight against health misinformation – An excerpt from First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Jul 6, 2024There is an urgent need to promote health literacy and...
: Siti Fatimah
Making Informed and Critical Health Decisions – An Excerpt From First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Jun 22, 2024Combatting health misinformation requires critical consumption of information, utilisation of...
: Dr. Akshay Jadhav
When health misinformation thrives during uncertainty – An excerpt from First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Jun 8, 2024By building a culture of critical thinking and evidence-based discourse,...
: Abara Erim
Hypothyroidism: My journey from apathy to acceptance
Published on : Jun 7, 2024A personal account of battling ignorance and online misinformation that...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Fact-check: Mangoes with black blotches may be artificially ripened
Published on : Jun 3, 2024Besides the cancer risk associated with the consumption of fruits...
: Pallav Vyas
Importance of Academia-Media Collaboration in Fact-Checking – An Excerpt From First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Jun 1, 2024Collaboration between universities and media organisations can significantly strengthen the...
: Walter Balane
Health Misinformation Across Borders – An Excerpt From First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : May 25, 2024Health Misinformation is not a uniform phenomenon across the globe;...
: Safieh Shah
Psychological inoculation works against health misinformation: JAMA
Published on : May 22, 2024Just as the body benefits from being exposed to low...
: First Check Team
Fides: WHO launches new initiative to combat health misinformation
Published on : May 13, 2024The aim is to build a network of healthcare influencers...
: First Check Team
Unveiling the Mental Health Struggles of Fact-Checkers – An Excerpt From First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : May 4, 2024The relentless exposure to misinformation can cause psychological harm and...
: Cait McMahon
BIMLI: 5 key learnings in fighting health misinformation
Published on : Apr 30, 2024The Bihar Information and Media Literacy Initiative, conducted in partnership...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Fact-check: Only child syndrome is a myth
Published on : Apr 8, 2024Rather than attributing certain behaviours to being an only child,...
: Vani Singh
US launches Foreign Ministry Channel for Health Security to counter health misinformation, disinformation
Published on : Mar 21, 2024Climate change, growing regional instability, the rise of misinformation and...
: First Check Team
Lessons in fighting health misinformation from Nigeria
Published on : Mar 19, 2024Beyond short-term online campaigns, proactively engage with social media influencers...
: Abara Erim
Why we need to collaborate to fight health misinformation
Published on : Mar 13, 2024It is crucial to address issues comprehensively, combining efforts to...
: Dr Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Haris
Indian court takes firm stand on misleading health ads
Published on : Feb 28, 2024The Supreme Court orders immediate ban on all electronic and...
: First Check Team
Interview: ‘Misinformation can lead to misunderstandings about scientific facts’
Published on : Feb 14, 2024Dr Safieh Shah, First Check member and Canada-based senior policy...
: First Check Team
Use behavioural science to fight health misinformation: Study
Published on : Feb 2, 2024Latest research underscores the importance of recognising the content, tactics...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Meftal is not unsafe for use
Published on : Dec 15, 2023In its latest advisory, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has stated...
: Florica Brahma
Explainer: Why the Supreme Court of India reprimanded Baba Ramdev
Published on : Dec 7, 2023This is not a debate on “Allopathy vs Ayurveda”, but...
: Tej Kumar
Rise of anti-science movement claims millions of lives, warns researcher
Published on : Oct 19, 2023In his book ‘The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: a Scientist’s...
: First Check Team
Explainer: How AI spreads health misinformation
Published on : Oct 13, 2023AI-driven algorithms on social media platforms and websites often recommend...
: Florica Brahma
The curious case of The Liver Doc & how it can impact health misinformation
Published on : Oct 5, 2023Dr Cyriac Abby Philips’ X account was recently suspended, following...
: Jisha Krishnan
Fact-check: 5 common myths about conjunctivitis
Published on : Aug 29, 2023Dr Vijitha S Vempuluru, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Ophthalmology, AIIMS...
: Florica Brahma
Fact-check: Alkaline water can’t cure liver and kidney failure
Published on : Aug 21, 2023While there are several claims made about the health benefits...
: Tej Kumar
Fact-check: Debunking 3 myths about veganism
Published on : Aug 4, 2023Proteins are not only found in meat and dairy products,...
: Florica Brahma
Online harassment deters doctors from fighting health misinformation on social media: Study
Published on : Jul 26, 2023We need comprehensive anti-online harassment tools and how-to guides designed...
: Jisha Krishnan
Combatting health misinformation in the age of ChatGPT
Published on : Jul 7, 2023Questions you can ask to ascertain whether the health information...
: Jisha Krishnan
Fact-check: Shaving does not promote hair growth
Published on : May 12, 2023It is a complex process influenced by various factors, such...
: Naveed Ahmad Najar
Health misinformation: Each one spot one
Published on : Jun 15, 2022If we realised how our emotions are being exploited and...
: Aliya Zainab
Flaxseed: No cure for thyroid problems
Published on : May 27, 2022While flaxseed is a rich source of essential fatty acids,...
: Sharmila Saha Roy
No, marijuana cannot cure cancer
Published on : May 23, 2022Studies have explored the possible benefits of medical marijuana on...
: Pratibha
Video warning against eating bitter gourd with ladyfinger gets 88 million FB views
Published on : May 19, 2022A video claiming that “consuming bitter gourd or white radish...
: N Ahmad
Fact-check: ‘Green juice’ cannot cure cancer
Published on : May 6, 2022Juicing removes fiber from fruits and veggies; consuming them in...
: Tej Kumar
‘There is no vaccine for the infodemic’
Published on : Apr 8, 2022Medical and scientific community need to champion the cause of...
: Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan Masud
Step up the fight against misinformation
Published on : Apr 7, 2022The health misinformation crisis won’t end with the pandemic. It’s...
: Dr Sameera Ranasinghe
‘Fact-checking is often neglected in medical discourse’
Published on : Apr 5, 2022Health-related misinformation and disinformation are significant threats to public health....
: Dr. Debanjan Banerjee
Why medical professionals need to take up fact-checking
Published on : Apr 2, 2022It’s not good enough to know that you know the...
: Zayed Aboali
Why I became a fact-checker: A story of loss, resolve & hope
Published on : Apr 1, 2022What drives me to fight health misinformation is the hopelessness...
: Tej Kumar
No home remedy to induce menstruation within an hour!
Published on : Mar 14, 2022Given that irregular periods are a common challenge for many...
: Tej Kumar
National Science Day: Embrace scientific temper, fight health misinformation
Published on : Feb 28, 2022The pandemic has exposed our knowledge gap. There’s an urgent...
: Jisha Krishnan
World Cancer Day: Spread facts, not fear
Published on : Feb 4, 2022Every year 4th February is observed as World Cancer Day...
: Tej Kumar
Lessons in tackling health misinformation
Published on : Jan 31, 2022Understanding how the internet and social media have changed out...
: Dr. Debanjan Banerjee
Beware of home remedies for asthma
Published on : Dec 10, 2021While organic compositions of natural products, prepared under laboratory conditions,...
: Tej Kumar
AIDS is not a ‘chemical toxin’ or a ‘scam on gays’
Published on : Dec 1, 2021World AIDS Day: Misinformation about the infection continues to spread...
: Tej Kumar
What The Fact! – How information deficits fuel misinformation
Published on : Nov 16, 2021People tend to engage more with misinformation than factual information....
: Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan
Google, YouTube fix digital ads policy to curb climate change misinformation
Published on : Nov 5, 2021The new policy against violating publisher content, Google-served ads, and...
: Abeen Shayiq
The Facebook Papers: How vaccine misinformation thrived
Published on : Oct 29, 2021While Facebook claims to have made “considerable progress” with downgrading...
: Jisha Krishnan
Dismantled: Here’s COVID skeptics proven wrong
Published on : Oct 14, 2021Ever since the start of the COVID pandemic, there have...
: Tariq Hashmat
Bitter gourd juice cannot cure diabetes
Published on : Oct 13, 2021Contrary to what viral YouTube videos claim, studies show that...
: Tej Kumar
Factually Speaking: Combating COVID-19 myths in Africa
Published on : Oct 8, 2021A primary healthcare practitioner from the Republic of Congo, Africa,...
: Dr. Raphael Byamungu
What The Fact! – What makes anyone indulge in misinformation?
Published on : Oct 4, 2021People fail to distinguish between information and misinformation, make sure...
: Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan
Why We Fact-Check Health Misinformation
Published on : Sep 30, 2021It is important to focus on the context of online...
: Aliya Zainab
Lemons are healthy, but they don’t cure cancer
Published on : Sep 24, 2021Researchers have been studying anti-carcinogenic properties of limonoids in laboratories...
: Tej Kumar
Cow’s heart not used as replacement for human heart
Published on : Aug 10, 2021An old Facebook post claiming that a woman’s failing heart...
: Tej Kumar
Honey and onion juice cannot cure asthma
Published on : Jul 28, 2021There is no cure yet for asthma. However, inhaled medications...
: Tej Kumar
Cold drinks don’t lead to miscarriage in pregnant women
Published on : Jul 14, 2021While studies show that carbonated, artificially-sweetened soft drinks are harmful...
: Tej Kumar
Use of alum powder and turmeric powder, mustard oil can’t prevent Mucormycosis
Published on : Jun 7, 2021Two YouTube videos with thousands of views claiming use of...
: Pushpita Dey
What may cause mucormycosis, experts explain
Published on : May 29, 2021A WhatsApp message claiming that humidity caused due to use...
: Pushpita Dey
WhatsApp forward claiming ‘Vaccinated People Will Die in 2 Years’ is untrue
Published on : May 27, 2021A widely-circulated message attributed to French virologist Luc Montagnier claims...
: Dr. Rohini Karandikar
A message falsely touts ‘bacteria in buttermilk’ as Covid-19 cure
Published on : May 22, 2021A WhatsApp message claiming bacteria present in buttermilk can fight...
: Tej Kumar
How Indian fact-checkers dealt with COVID-19 misinformation
Published on : May 18, 2021An analysis of International Fact Checking Network’s repository of fact-checked...
: Nabeela Khan
There’s no scientific proof that alum water can cure COVID-19
Published on : May 12, 2021A video shared thousands of times claims that alum water...
: Tej Kumar
No, taking a concoction of pepper, honey and ginger will not cure COVID-19
Published on : May 7, 2021Despite a crackdown on misinformation, unproven cures and remedies continue...
: Pushpita Dey
No, an empty nebuliser is not a substitute for oxygen cylinder
Published on : Apr 26, 2021Using a nebuliser in place of an oxygen cylinder will...
: Sahil Bali
Post warning women not to take COVID-19 vaccine during periods is ‘false’
Published on : Apr 25, 2021COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t pose a risk if taken during periods....
: Tej Kumar
False claim uses Japanese Nobel laureate Tasuku Honjo name again to spread COVID-19 misinformation
Published on : Apr 19, 2021As the world grapples with a health crisis and misinformation,...
: First Check Team
This tonic of leaves cannot cure HIV
Published on : Mar 1, 2021There is no scientific evidence to prove that a health...
: Tej Kumar
Three-pronged approach to fight the infodemic
Published on : Feb 19, 2021Misinformation and rumours are three times more likely to be...
: Dr. Apurva Kumar Pandya
No, incense sticks do not ward off Covid-19
Published on : Feb 15, 2021A popular YouTube channel claims that smouldering incense sticks can...