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| - Last Updated on October 14, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
Several social media post are spreading health misinformation online putting a disclaimer that the tips are general and recommends to consult a doctor before taking a decision. We factchecked the claims and put them under mostly false category. Even though the claims made are correct to a certain extent, mere putting a disclaimer does not give you a free hand in spreading misinformation.
The Claim
Several facebook post are making inconsistent health claims mere putting a disclaimer give you a free hand in spreading misinformation.
The disclaimer reads, ‘Note: These tips are general in nature; and it’s always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional or expert for personalized advice’.
These claims have even reached up to 61k likes till we last checked.
We have attached a screenshots of such claims
Fact Check
Does the claimed videos provide correct information?
Not always. Social media is easy to use, but it doesn’t always give us the right information. Even in the claimed videos, the information is not entirely accurate. In one video, there are claims that suggest that thin individuals can gain weight by consuming a combination of chickpeas and dates. Conversely, another video asserts that drinking fennel water on an empty stomach can lead to weight loss in just 10 days, while applying ghee to chapati can promote weight gain. Additionally, it is suggested that consuming jaggery with onion juice can increase height.
We have previously conducted comprehensive research that shows fennel alone cannot induce weight loss, and the combination of ghee and roti cannot lead to weight gain, strengthen bones, or prevent hair loss. These conditions can occur due to various factors, including nutritional deficiencies, certain diseases, or other underlying causes that cannot be solved by ghee or roti alone. Similarly, it would be an exaggeration to claim that dates or chickpeas, jaggery with onion juice alone, can produce miraculous results on their own.
In a different social media video, it proclaims that moringa is more nutritious than oranges, bananas, milk, and meat. It suggests that consuming moringa can prevent low immunity, hair fall, asthma, diabetes, and obesity. However, even though moringa has health benefits, it is still better to consult a doctor before eating it. Each of these conditions has specific treatments that individuals should seek out, rather than relying solely on these quick remedies.
The nuances of misinformation are further complicated when considering the role of social media in disseminating health information. This concern is particularly relevant when evaluating the trustworthiness of online sources for topics like treating parasitic wounds.
Yet another social media video claims that applying potato to the skin can remove pigmentation. However, it may only reduce the appearance of pigmentation and may not target the root cause in every individual. For a comprehensive approach, a doctor can prescribe lightening creams, retinoids, chemical peels, laser therapy, and microdermabrasion to address the root cause of pigmentation.
Similarly, relying solely on cashews to improve the quality and appearance of skin and hair, or drinking hot water with black pepper to boost stamina, is not recommended. These measures can complement proper treatment taken to address specific health issues.
Can putting a disclaimer give you a free hand in spreading misinformation?
Not exactly. Disclaimers do convey the message that the information presented in the content should not be taken seriously. However it is important to emphasize that adding a disclaimer to misinformation does not give you a free hand in spreading it.
A disclaimer is simply a statement that warns the reader or viewer that the information may not be accurate or reliable. It does not minimise your responsibility of ensuring that the information you are sharing is true and accurate.
In fact, putting a disclaimer on misinformation can be seen as a way to try to avoid responsibility for the consequences of spreading it. It is a way of saying, ‘I know this information may not be true, but I am sharing it anyway, and it is your fault if you believe it.’
In addition to this, we have observed that these social media videos are generated using AI tools, which makes it challenging to engage with their creators. For instance, the claimant of the social media video mentioned in this story is a prime example of this challenge.
Furthermore, we have identified the creator of these social media videos as a page named ‘doctorji_ai_sb.’ This page has published numerous similar videos, and it is difficult to establish communication with the individual behind these posts.
Moreover, these videos often include hashtags that are unrelated to the claims made in the video. This practice is commonly employed by social media users seeking to promote their content through the use of popular or viral hashtags.
In conclusion, it is important to remember that misinformation can have serious consequences. It can lead people to make wrong decisions that can negatively affect their lives.
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