Claim: YouTube is removing the ‘dislike’ button from the platform. Fact: YouTube is making its dislike count private to deter harassment but the dislike button is not going anywhere. After the change comes into place, creators can still view the dislike count for their videos in the YouTube Studio should they wish to. On 11 […]
Claim: There is an electrostatic force between mobile phones and charged particles in clouds that can cause mobile phones to be hit by lightning. Activating flight mode on mobile phones helps avoid lightning strikes. Activating flight mode also helps avoid interference during WhatsApp calls. Activating flight mode switches off all of a mobile phone’s sensors and […]
Claims: ● The results of a recent study prove that the greater the age difference between two people in a couple, the lower the probability of divorce. Fact: ● There is no recent study that conclusively suggests there is an inverse relationship between age difference and probability of divorce. ● The study cited in the […]
Claim: The world’s biggest snake has been caught by two hunters in Florida, United States of America (USA). Fact: The record for the longest snake in the world dates back to 1912, when a reticulated python measured in at 32 feet and 9.5 inches. This record has not yet been broken. In 2020, two python […]
Claim: A video captioned “Govt Imposed Ban On Sinopharm And Moderna Vaccine, But Why?” was shared by Facebook page City 42. Fact: District Health Officer Dr. Zaeem Zia confirmed to Soch Fact Check that the Sinopharm and Moderna vaccines have not been banned by the government. A video titled “Govt Imposed Ban On Sinopharm And […]
Claim: European countries stopped using the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine after cases of blood clots were reported. Fact: Some European countries temporarily paused the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine. At least 18 of these countries have now removed the pause. Thromboembolic Events with Blood Clots During the first three weeks of March, countries across Europe temporarily paused […]
Claim: Pakistan is using a Chinese vaccine which was proven to have an efficacy of 50.4% during late-stage trials held in Brazil. Fact: Pakistan has currently approved Sinopharm Biotech Ltd.’s vaccine from China. The Sinovac vaccine that was tested in Brazil has not been approved in Pakistan. Pakistan is currently testing one other Chinese vaccine, […]
Claim: The Covid-19 vaccine negatively impacts male fertility. Fact: Any relationship between male fertility and the Covid-19 vaccine has not been scientifically proven. On 12 January, 2021 Zaid Hamid tweeted a screenshot of this article with the misleading headline “Study investigates effects of Covid-19 on male fertility,” implying the clinical trial has been completed and […]
Claim: A WhatsApp message being circulated claims that South City Hospital, Imtiaz Supermarket and Chase Up have all been shut due to Covid-19 outbreaks. The message also claims that 16 positive Covid-19 cases can be traced to Al Jadeed store. Fact: No recent Covid-19 outbreaks have been reported in any of the above mentioned places […]
Claim: Eating locusts boosts the immune system’s response against Covid-19. Fact: The immune system cannot be modified significantly by the consumption of any specific food, locusts or otherwise. Adhering to a healthy diet on the whole is the only way to provide ongoing support to the immune system. On June 24 2020, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA […]
Claim: News headlines portray bubonic plague case in China as a novel occurrence Fact: Cases of the bubonic plague are reported worldwide every year. The disease is curable in most cases. A number of western international media outlets such as CNN, BBC and the New York Times reported over the weekend that a case of […]
Claim: Fumigation of outdoor spaces with a disinfectant is an effective way to curtail the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). Fact: Spraying or fumigation of outdoor spaces is not recommended and is ineffective in preventing the spread of Covid-19. Since the start of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, we have seen videos and images from […]