Claim reviews
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
Sea temperatures around the Great Barrier Reef have increased over the last 150 years, contrary to claim at Wattsupwiththat
CLAIM
"Great Barrier Reef Sea Surface Temperature: No Change In 150 Years"
SOURCE: David Mason-Jones, Wattsupwiththat?
Published: 08 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
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
Solar forcing is not the main cause of current global warming, contrary to claim by Alex Newman in the Epoch Times
CLAIM
The Sun and not human emissions of carbon dioxide may be the main cause of warmer temperatures in recent decades. There is a systemic bias in UN IPCC's data selection.
SOURCE: Alex Newman, The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, Newsmax
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