STUDY: Drop the abbreviations in texting to build better connections
Published on : Nov 19, 2024Next time you're tempted to use shortcuts like "thanx" for...
: First Check Team
Report: Majority of adults view, trust and act on TikTok health content
Published on : Nov 7, 2024Around 53% of TikTok users aged 18-29 say they trust...
: First Check Team
Study: Girls lead in social media use, boys more drawn to gaming
Published on : Oct 17, 2024Adolescents are spending increasing amounts of time immersed in...
: First Check Team
Australia proposes social media ban for kids to ‘have a childhood’
Published on : Sep 11, 2024The federal legislation, which would enforce a minimum age for...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Mpox is not limited to gays, bisexuals; anyone can get it
Published on : Aug 21, 2024The zoonotic disease is typically found in areas close to...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Rosemary oil + coconut oil benefits for hair
Published on : Aug 14, 2024From tackling bacterial infections and scalp inflammation to preventing protein...
: Florica Brahma
Fact-check: Vaseline intake not the secret to long life
Published on : Aug 13, 2024Robert Chesebrough, the American chemist who discovered petroleum jelly and...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Explainer: Decoding the social media conflict over hibiscus tea
Published on : Aug 1, 2024Hibiscus tea may have medicinal properties, but clinical research on...
: Allen Joe Mathew
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
Addressing the threat to global public health
Published on : Jul 19, 2024Experts consider the impact of upcoming US election results and...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Spirulina rich in nutrition, but not essential for all
Published on : Jul 19, 2024Its unique composition has led NASA to incorporate spirulina into...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Combining the reach of social media with the power of traditional media – An excerpt from First Check’s Coffee Table Book
Published on : Jul 13, 2024We pondered about the ways in which we can deliver...
: Qian Sun
‘Concerning to see pseudo-experts encouraging the population to forgo sunscreen’
Published on : Jul 5, 2024The Ordre des chimistes du Québeche, a regulatory body in...
: First Check Team
Cigarette-style warnings on social media risks to protect children: US surgeon general
Published on : Jul 4, 2024Dr Vivek Murthy slammed social networks for emerging as an...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Cellulite is normal, doesn’t need to be fixed
Published on : Jun 21, 2024The cosmetic industry has capitalised on insecurities surrounding cellulite –...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Fact-check: Flawed rationale behind soaking nuts before consumption
Published on : Jun 19, 2024Studies find that soaking nuts does not improve gastrointestinal tolerance...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Fact-check: Spot reduction is a myth
Published on : May 27, 2024Targeted exercises can improve muscle tone and appearance, but they...
: Allen Joe Mathew
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
Fact-check: Onions won’t help you beat the summer heat
Published on : May 13, 2024A recent video of an Indian politician talking to the...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Red Line Campaign: Spotlight on self-medication risks
Published on : May 9, 2024The awareness campaign by the Indian Ministry of Health and...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Reducing calories in rice by adding coconut oil
Published on : May 7, 2024Cooking rice along with any form of fat, not just...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Fact-check: Ads promote bogus diabetes cure on Indian news websites
Published on : Apr 22, 2024They endorse a dubious dietary supplement and unverified drug for...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Social cues shape perceptions of online information: Study
Published on : Apr 8, 2024By acknowledging the social aspects of online information consumption, the...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Castor oil is not a magic pill
Published on : Apr 4, 2024Contrary to what social media influencers may claim, castor oil...
: Allen Joe Mathew
Pro tips to find scientific health information on social media
Published on : Mar 20, 2024Nutrition and fitness expert Layne Norton offers some sound advice...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: The connection between gastric issues and stress in relationships
Published on : Mar 5, 2024Stress, anxiety, and unresolved emotional conflicts can manifest in various...
: Florica Brahma
Fact-check: DIY teeth whitening treatments don’t work
Published on : Feb 27, 2024Social media claims about the magic mixture of toothpaste, baking...
: Aliya Zainab
Fact-check: Bulletproof coffee no magic bullet to weight loss
Published on : Jan 29, 2024While the coffee concoction can kill food cravings and give...
: Deepika Khurana
Fact-check: Consume beans for better digestion, weight loss
Published on : Jan 25, 2024Instagram video is right about the positive impact of consuming...
: Florica Brahma
Fact-check: DIY Vagus nerve massage can’t cure mental health issues
Published on : Jan 23, 2024On social media, rubs and massages that “tone” one of...
: Deepika Khurana
Fact-check: No magic diet can cure it all
Published on : Jan 15, 2024The hype about Master Cleanse, Mono Diet, or Mediterranean diet...
: Deepika Khurana
Menstrual hygiene: The health crisis we don’t talk about
Published on : Jan 4, 2024Social media posts shed light on the plights of countless...
: Florica Brahma
Social media listening crucial for tackling infodemic’s impact on health: Study
Published on : Jan 3, 2024‘Informing social media analysis for public health: a cross-sectional survey...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Japan hasn’t banned BHT due to health risks
Published on : Nov 23, 2023BHT is a lab-made chemical that is permitted for use...
: Florica Brahma
Explainer: What is “fried rice syndrome”?
Published on : Nov 17, 2023Bacillus cereus can exist on raw rice, and if it’s...
: Florica Brahma
UNESCO unveils action plan to regulate social media platforms to fight disinformation
Published on : Nov 7, 2023The first World Conference of Regulators to be held in...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Emergency contraceptive pills are safe
Published on : Nov 1, 2023While they can be a powerful tool of women empowerment,...
: First Check Team
Fact-check: Sweet salads don’t impact masculinity
Published on : Oct 27, 2023The association of sweets with femininity has historically led to...
: Tej Kumar
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
Fact-check: Xeroderma pigmentosum does not cause one’s skin to melt
Published on : Jun 28, 2023XP affects the body’s ability to repair DNA damage caused...
: John Aloyzeus Reotutar
Fact-Check: Bill Gates hasn’t scheduled the next pandemic in 2025
Published on : Jun 1, 2023SEERS is a fictitious disease created for a pandemic-simulating exercise...
: John Aloyzeus Reotutar
Fact-check: Hot water + pineapple ≠ cancer cure
Published on : Apr 28, 2023Bromelain could be a promising therapy for colorectal cancer. However,...
: Naveed Ahmad Najar
Fact-check: Do pandemics occur every 100 years?
Published on : Mar 3, 2023Several past pandemics that occurred without such synchrony have gone...
: Toibah Kirmani
Fact-check: Fake WHO post on ‘7 biggest brain damaging habits’ resurfaces on social media
Published on : Feb 14, 2023When the claim went viral in Nigeria in 2020, WHO...
: Naveed Ahmad Najar
Fact-check: Eating pineapple doesn’t cause miscarriage
Published on : Feb 7, 2023No scientific evidence to support causal link between pineapple consumption...
: Naveed Ahmad Najar
Fact-check: Social media filters can be injurious to health
Published on : Feb 3, 2023There’s an increase in body-image disorders, such as Snapchat dysmorphia,...
: Toibah Kirmani
Fact-check: Examining the myth about regaining virginity
Published on : Nov 3, 2022Water boiled with groundnuts cannot help you regain your virginity....
: Pratibha
Fact-check: Guava leaves cannot cure tumours
Published on : Oct 31, 2022Even if the tumour is benign, there is possibility of...
: Sharmila Saha Roy
Fact Check: Should we take up Nyquil Chicken Challenge?
Published on : Oct 3, 2022Weird invitations to daredevilry, such as the Ice Bucket Challenge...
: Tej Kumar
Fact-check: No home remedy to unclog heart arteries
Published on : Sep 15, 2022There is no scientific study to prove that consuming betel...
: Sharmila Saha Roy
Fact-check: Monkeypox home remedies don’t hold water
Published on : Sep 9, 2022There are multiple YouTube videos on home remedies for Monkeypox,...
: Tej Kumar
Fact-check: No evidence to back unborn baby’s sex prediction myths
Published on : Aug 23, 2022None of the pseudoscientific procedures help to determine the gender...
: Tej Kumar
Fact-check: Mother’s milk no substitute for vaccines
Published on : Aug 5, 2022Vaccines are the most useful and lifesaving inventions in medical...
: Tej Kumar
Fact-Check: Ghee and cow milk do not cure cancer
Published on : Jun 23, 2022On the contrary, some studies say that the consumption of...
: Tej Kumar
Health misinformation: Each one spot one
Published on : Jun 15, 2022If we realised how our emotions are being exploited and...
: Aliya Zainab
Fact-check: ‘Natural’ remedies can’t cure asthma
Published on : Jun 1, 2022Debunking four misleading claims about home-based remedies for the major...
: Tej Kumar
Flaxseed: No cure for thyroid problems
Published on : May 27, 2022While flaxseed is a rich source of essential fatty acids,...
: Sharmila Saha Roy
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
Don’t ignore period pain
Published on : Apr 20, 2022Resorting to home remedies found on social media to help...
: Sharmila Saha Roy
Fact-checking: Why context matters
Published on : Apr 13, 2022Although vaccines may contain mercury, formaldehyde and aluminium, there’s no...
: Pratibha
‘Scientific research must be easy to find & share’
Published on : Apr 4, 2022As the fight against COVID-19 continues, the scientific community is...
: John Aloyzeus Reotutar
Lessons in tackling health misinformation
Published on : Jan 31, 2022Understanding how the internet and social media have changed out...
: Dr. Debanjan Banerjee
6 COVID-19 myths that refuse to die
Published on : Jan 10, 2022A viral WhatsApp video, circulating in India, peddles old misleading...
: Tej Kumar
When social media blows up hazards of drinking water
Published on : Jan 6, 2022Some studies suggest that consuming eight glasses of water per...
: Tej Kumar
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
No miracle cures for the heart
Published on : Nov 22, 2021YouTube videos advocate easy, home-based remedies that not only promise...
: Tej Kumar
Bottle gourd juice can be toxic
Published on : Nov 19, 2021Research has established that consumption of bitter bottle gourd juice...
: Tej Kumar
Smokers beware: No quick fixes to detox the lungs
Published on : Nov 12, 2021November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Despite social media posts...
: Tej Kumar
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
Baseless theories about entry of women in Sabarimala Temple causing the 2018 floods in Kerala, debunked and clarified
Published on : Nov 3, 2021If social media posts are to be believed, the 2018...
: First Check Team
Beware of misleading Instagram posts on breast cancer
Published on : Oct 30, 2021Under the guise of spreading awareness, unscientific claims – that...
: Tej Kumar
Bitter gourd juice cannot cure diabetes
Published on : Oct 13, 2021Contrary to what viral YouTube videos claim, studies show that...
: Tej Kumar
Depression & anxiety: 3 myths about medical treatments
Published on : Sep 14, 2021Investigating misleading claims made by a viral YouTube video on...
: Tej Kumar
No scientific evidence yet to prove cow urine can cure cancer
Published on : Sep 8, 2021Unless there’s solid data from human-centric research on the chemotherapeutic...
: Tej Kumar
COVID-19 vaccines cannot be used to track people
Published on : Sep 3, 2021Viral Facebook post in multiple South Asian languages falsely claims...
: Tej Kumar
What The Fact! – Conspiracies, Concoctions and COVID
Published on : Sep 2, 2021What drives the misinformation ecosystem is the lack of knowledge,...
: Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan
Debunking three controversial COVID-19 claims
Published on : Aug 19, 2021A YouTube channel called ‘Unmask Express’ has been consistently making...
: 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
Liquorice, lemon & honey: No magic formula to boost oxygen levels in the body
Published on : Jul 23, 2021Contrary to what a viral YouTube video suggests, scientific studies...
: Tej Kumar
Delta variant of COVID-19 is not hard to detect
Published on : Jul 20, 2021A widely circulated WhatsApp forward falsely claims that the Delta...
: Pushpita Dey
Vaccines don’t compromise one’s natural immunity
Published on : Jul 2, 2021Prominent Indian lawyer and activist, Prashant Bhushan, was called out...
: Tej Kumar
No link between anaesthesia and COVID-19 jab
Published on : Jun 28, 2021A viral WhatsApp message falsely claims that using anaesthesia can...
: Tej Kumar
Multiple YouTube videos falsely claim Covid-19 vaccination as ‘ineffective’
Published on : Jun 21, 2021Decoding the common narrative that leads to misinformation about vaccines...
: Tej Kumar
False claims touting cough syrup as ‘Covid-19 cure’ is misleading
Published on : Jun 14, 2021A YouTube video claiming Bromhexine syrup as a cure of...
: Tej Kumar
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
Post claiming vaccinated people are more susceptible to COVID-19 variants is misleading
Published on : May 14, 2021Social media posts, based on a recent study conducted in...
: Jisha Krishnan
Real vs fake Remdesivir injections: Know the difference
Published on : May 12, 2021An injection named Covipri is circulating on social media, with...
: 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
YouTube videos suggesting home remedies to increase oxygen are False
Published on : May 4, 2021There is no scientific evidence to prove that a combination...
: Sahil Bali
Video claiming tap water tested positive for COVID-19 is misleading
Published on : May 2, 2021A video indicating that tap water can test positive for...
: Abeen Shayiq
No, nurses are not purposely administering empty COVID-19 vaccines
Published on : Apr 30, 2021Image of an elderly woman taking the empty Covid-19 vaccine...
: Sahil Bali
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
IAF official hasn’t written any message on using steam to counter COVID-19
Published on : Apr 26, 2021There is no Air Marshal Ashutosh Sharma at Bangalore. Command...
: Tej Kumar
NSA Ajit Doval didn’t write a letter lauding Kumbh efforts
Published on : Apr 23, 2021Government officials confirmed that reports of the so-called letter praising...
: First Check Team
Starting a steam inhalation drive will not end the pandemic
Published on : Apr 22, 2021As India is witnessing a surge in cases, preventions and...
: 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
No evidence to prove COVID-19 vaccine causes heart attacks
Published on : Apr 16, 2021A social media post promoting a correlation between the COVID-19...
: Tej Kumar
Post claiming sanitary pads cause cancer is false
Published on : Apr 12, 2021There is no scientific evidence to prove that wearing sanitary...
: Pankhuri Agarwal
COVID-19 vaccination: Beware of bogus dos & don’ts
Published on : Apr 2, 2021While proper nutrition and hydration are essential for good health,...
: Jisha Krishnan
Debunked claims of COVID-19 cures resurface in vernacular language
Published on : Mar 22, 2021First Check found videos encouraging unscientific cures of COVID-19 on...
: Sista Mukherjee
Are DIY disinfectants safe?
Published on : Mar 15, 2021Youtube is awash with how to disinfect surfaces and many...
: First Check Team
‘Stop the spread of Germans’ image is manipulated
Published on : Feb 5, 2021An image circulating on social media saying "stop the spread...
: Sahil Bali
No, COVID-19 vaccines neither make farmers sterile nor is a government ploy to take over their land
Published on : Feb 1, 2021A Facebook page and its corresponding Youtube channel claim that...
: Sahil Bali
Misleading message about Covid-19 vaccine efficacy viral on WhatsApp
Published on : Jan 25, 2021A Whatsapp message with a number of assumptions and questions...
: Abeen Bilal
Post about vaccines containing toxic levels of ingredients is misleading
Published on : Jan 19, 2021The substances listed in the social media post are present...
: Sahil Bali
No, coronavirus doesn’t lay eggs in throat, nor it can be cured in a day with herbal vaporizers
Published on : Jan 15, 2021There is no study to back the claim that coronavirus...
: Sista Mukherjee
Explained: Is eating poultry products safe amid bird flu?
Published on : Jan 11, 2021WHO guidelines and experts recommend that it is safe to...
: Nabeela Khan
Can red ant chutney cure Coronavirus?
Published on : Jan 9, 2021Multiple Facebook posts claim that red ant chutney (sauce) is...
: Tej Kumar
A false video on YouTube claims COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in men
Published on : Jan 6, 2021The COVID-19 vaccine does not cause infertility; the rumour is...
: Tej Kumar
No, six-minute walk is not a test for COVID-19
Published on : Dec 23, 2020https://youtu.be/8L_WWwuaj04 The recent misinformation trending on social media is the...
: Tej Kumar
Facebook to prohibit ads that discourage vaccines
Published on : Dec 8, 2020https://youtu.be/dREYs_m39sQ Facebook has said it will start prohibiting Ads that...
: Nabeela Khan
No, ‘virus shutout necklaces’ cannot protect you from coronavirus
Published on : Nov 21, 2020As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to claim more lives, more...
: Nabeela Khan
Vaccine hesitancy due to disinformation campaign, shows BMJ study
Published on : Nov 7, 2020Social media disinformation campaigns are linked to falling vaccination rates,...
: Nabeela Khan
Debunking 6 viral claims about COVID-19 remedies
Published on : Nov 1, 2020There’s no dearth of posts on social media platforms claiming...
: First Check Team
Drinking tea is not a cure for Covid-19
Published on : Oct 17, 2020Claims about tea being a cure for COVID-19 have been...
: Nabeela Khan
No, China does not hold the patent for drug remdesivir
Published on : Oct 2, 2020https://youtu.be/LlByPznyWjk A WhatsApp message claims that the patent for the...
: Nabeela Khan
No, putting basil leaves, camphor inside the mask will not purify the air nor it will protect you from Covid-19
Published on : Sep 10, 2020Videos making false and misleading claims about masks are getting...
: Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan
A video claiming coronavirus is like any other flu is false
Published on : Sep 3, 2020A video is getting viral on Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube claiming...
: Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan
Battling vaccine misinformation: MMR vaccine has no association with Autism
Published on : Aug 14, 2020There's scientific evidence to prove that the MMR vaccine doesn't...
: Nabeela Khan
No, Vicks VapoRub will not help in reducing belly fat
Published on : Aug 6, 2020There is no scientific evidence to prove that Vicks VapoRub, a topical...
: Parul Goswami
Beware of apps that claim to check blood oxygen level, hackers are out to steal your data
Published on : Jul 30, 2020A viral WhatsApp message in India is asking people to...
: Jisha Krishnan
Unproven COVID-19 treatment list circulates on Whatsapp
Published on : Jul 27, 2020A photo of a list of treatments claiming to have...
: Nabeela Khan
Home-made blend of onion, lemon and honey will not prevent a heart attack
Published on : Jul 24, 2020A video viewed millions of times claims that heart attacks...
: Sista Mukherjee
No, homemade concoctions may not help in passing kidney stones
Published on : Jul 23, 2020A Youtube video claims that a concoction of onion, cumin,...
: Abeen Bilal
This video of undignified burial of dead bodies is from Indian state of Karnataka and not Russia
Published on : Jul 17, 2020A video that has been watched hundreds of times on...
: Sahil Bali
No, tying a sack of spices and camphor will not protect you from Covid-19
Published on : Jul 10, 2020There is no scientific evidence that tying a homemade pouch...
: First Check Team
Analysing social media response to COVID-19 misinformation
Published on : Jul 6, 2020Social media platforms are under constant pressure to regulate misinformation....
: Nabeela Khan
100 fake COVID-19 WhatsApp forwards that we almost believed
Published on : Jun 12, 2020The spread of dubious claims and false information during the...
: Deepika Khurana
Trends in Covid-19 misinformation in India
Published on : Jun 5, 2020Amid an unprecedented global health crisis, health journalists faced a...
: Nabeela Khan
10 Twitter posts on Covid-19 that mislead the world
Published on : Jun 5, 2020We’ve been looking at some of the most widely circulated...