MediaWise

“Damar Hamlin nearly died due to the COVID-19 vaccine”

“The “Inflation Reduction Act” will reduce energy production.”

“Pfizer's CEO said a fourth covid vaccine dose is necessary”

MediaWise says: While the tweet could have included more information or links to the guidance from scientists or health officials, Pfizer’s CEO did say that a fourth vaccine would be “necessary.”

“Biden told the press "I'm not gonna take any questions because I think it's inappropriate”

MediaWise says: While the president did say this, the video in the tweet was intentionally edited to remove the end of his sentence that clarified why he thought taking questions was inappropriate. The president didn’t say that taking …

“The continued melting of ice caps due to human-caused climate change could release long-dormant bacteria and viruses able to infect their targets”

MediaWise says: It’s true that scientists have found that within melting permafrost there are ancient viruses and bacteria, some previously unknown to science. However, most of these viruses can only infect amoebas. And while there mig…

“There are more COVID-19 cases now than before there was a vaccine”

MediaWise says: Parts of the meme are true — like the fact that we are seeing more COVID-19 cases now than in 2020, but this meme could lead people to believe that it’s the vaccines causing this to happen, which experts have repeatedly…

“Michigan schools are installing litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats.”

MediaWise says: Midland Public Schools superintendent Michael Sharrow said there is absolutely no truth to rumors that litter boxes are provided for students who are furries, or self-identify as cats.

“Actors Betty White and Bob Saget's deaths were caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.”

MediaWise says: Bob Saget's family released a statement saying he died from a head injury. Betty White died in her sleep after suffering a stroke six days earlier.

“2022 Olympians are competing next to a nuclear power plant”

MediaWise says: The photo has not been digitally manipulated or altered. The Big Air Shougang venue is on the site of an old steel mill, which closed in 2008 — not a nuclear power plant, which some social users claimed.

“Sen. Rand Paul told a group of medical school students that "misinformation works" and is a "great tactic”

MediaWise says: While the quote went viral in 2022, the video was from 2013 — years before misinformation became the big buzzword it is today.

“D.C. residents will need proof of vaccination to leave their homes”

MediaWise says: While you don’t need a vaccination card just to leave your home, as some suspected after reading the mayor’s tweet, people in D.C. will need to have proof of vaccination on hand to do most things.

“2021 was one of the deadliest years in history for law enforcement, with a 55% increase in police fatalities.”

MediaWise says: It's true that 2021 was one of the deadliest years for police, however, most of these deaths were due to COVID-19. Not mentioning COVID-19 at all is extremely misleading — especially given that many captions focused on …

“President Joe Biden said Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination did not have the worldwide impact that George Floyd’s death did”

MediaWise says: While the president did make this statement, the clip is from two years ago and doesn’t include important context.

“A 1997 “Archie” comic predicted virtual school in the year 2021.”

MediaWise says: This comic, showing Betty attending virtual school in 2021, was published in 1997, 24 years before virtual school became a reality for most of us. However, the comic never states that this was due to a pandemic.

“It’s dangerous to use your phone while it’s plugged in and that it allows electric waves to pass through your body.”

MediaWise says: While the video wasn’t doctored or edited in any way, the information is presented in a misleading way, since holding the voltage stick to your body while holding any appliance would likely yield the same result. Furthe…

“Pouring Coca-Cola or Pepsi on uncooked pork will rid it of worms or other parasites.”

MediaWise says: While there is a disease known as trichinosis that can make you sick from eating raw or undercooked meat from an animal infected with the parasite, it’s pretty rare. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and …

“Eating a burnt orange with sugar will help you regain your lost senses from COVID-19”

MediaWise says: While some social media users have claimed that this worked for them, experts say it’s likely because they were already on the road to recovery.

“Georgia provision that bans giving away water or food to voters within a certain distance of polling sites is the same law that's in place in Joe Biden's home state of Delaware.”

MediaWise says: While Delaware does prohibit gifts to voters, it’s not true to say that Georgia’s ban on food and water is the same law that’s in place in Delaware, since Delaware’s laws don’t even mention food or water.

“nanobots” — specifically nanoparticles called Morgellons — enter your brain when a COVID-19 test swab goes up your nose”

MediaWise says: The strands from the testing swab in the video are shiny and appear to move because of the synthetic — nonliving — material in them.

“California theme parks will ban screaming from rides”

MediaWise says: While California theme parks will begin to take precautionary measures such as significantly reduced capacity, mandatory masking and modified seat loading patterns to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, nowhere in the…