Ever since we were children, we were warned about the evils of sugar rushes, the dangers of cracking your knuckles and how standing by the microwave could give you cancer. But how many of these concerns are actually valid? None. All of these myths have since been debunked; but as we move into the new era of the internet, a whole new kind of medical misinformation is born. Information now spreads like wildfire over the internet, especially on social media, making it a major threat to public health and well-being.
(sourced from https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/26/us/misinformation-dictionary-word-of-the-year-2018-trnd/index.html)
Social media is a junkyard of false information and of people striving to imitate their favourite influencers. Many are beginning to resort to crash diets and other fads advertised by famous figures, most of which have no scientific basis and are ineffective in the long run. Of the 45 million people who go on a diet annually in the US, a staggering fifty percent resort to using fad diets! Some of these diets involve heavily restricting the intake of certain essential nutrients such as carbohydrates and others involve eating only certain kinds of food such as clear liquids or fruits. These diets are dangerous as several key nutrients may be overlooked and this may cause various types of malnutrition; so while they may cause rapid weight-loss, these diets are unsustainable, may promote disordered eating and yield only short term results.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is lots of false information spreading about the disease's effects, vaccines and even cures. In the beginning of the pandemic, some people were against the use of masks, claiming that wearing them may cause an oxygen deficiency. This rumour had spread to many people, discouraging them from wearing masks and possibly increasing the transmission of the disease. Eventually, the World Health Organisation stepped in to clear up the misunderstanding, but damage had already been done. Some people who feared the virus even resorted to consuming bleach when Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, claimed that consuming disinfectants was effective against COVID-19 at a televised press conference in the US. Bleach is extremely toxic if consumed, causing vomiting and respiratory issues. It could even eventually lead to death.
In Singapore specifically, Ivermectin, a medication for parasitic worm infections, was believed by some to prevent and cure COVID-19 after Dr. Khoo Boo Kian posted his views on a large WhatsApp group chat and on his social media accounts. Those who took the Ivermectin without appropriate prescriptions suffered from symptoms such as intense vomiting and diarrhoea. Furthermore, anti-vaxxers spread myths regarding the safety and efficacy of Coronavirus vaccines, claiming that mRNA vaccines caused permanent changes to the subject’s DNA. These rumours spread like wildfire on Facebook, and many videos were posted online by people claiming to have become ‘magnetic’ after having received the COVID-19 vaccine, inciting deep public concern. However, this was soon disproven by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The large amount of misinformation circulating is a threat to our well-being. The conspiracy theories and fake news propagated, especially those surrounding a virus that is so new to us, may cause our mental health to deteriorate as varying sources may contain worrying falsehoods which can impact our mental health by causing unnecessary worry and distress. At the same time, certain myths, such as those about diets, can have a direct impact on our physical health by causing health issues in the long run. Fortunately though, several governments and social media platforms have made a significant effort to reduce the circulation of false news. Instagram now has a verified third-party fact-checker to warn against any untrue claims, and various governments and the World Health Organization (WHO) publish articles regularly to clear up any misconceptions about the COVID-19.
So, the next time you read an Instagram post telling you how you can recover from COVID-19 by eating 24 tablespoons of pepper, take the time to re-evaluate the statement. As we continue our lives in the digital age, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge that not everything we see online is true - and while evaluating the accuracy of a fact, remember to remain mentally healthy!
Written by Karen Monie
References:
ABECSW.org. 2022. Fad Diet Statistics in 2022 - ABECSW.org. [online] Available at: <https://www.abecsw.org/fad-diet-statistics/> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
Cleveland Clinic. 2022. Fad Diets: Diet, Types, Tips. [online] Available at: <https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9476-fad-diets#:~:text=Many%20fad%20diets%20promote%20quick,can%20even%20cause%20health%20problems.> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
CNA. 2022. Doctor allegedly made misleading claims, promoted use of ivermectin to treat and prevent COVID-19. [online] Available at: <https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/doctor-khoo-boo-kian-restrictions-smc-ivermectin-treat-prevent-covid-19-misleading-claims-2601871> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
Gov.sg. 2022. Misleading claims that Ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. [online] Available at: <https://www.gov.sg/article/misleading-claims-that-ivermectin-is-effective-against-covid-19> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
Healthhub.sg. 2022. Fad Diets: Are They Effective Weight Loss Diets?. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1173/fad-diets---how-effective-are-they-for-weight-loss> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
Taylor Nelson, A., 2022. The Danger of Misinformation in the COVID-19 Crisis. [online] PubMed Central (PMC). Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7721433/> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
Who.int. 2022. COVID-19 Mythbusters – World Health Organization. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters> [Accessed 16 April 2022].
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