What's Crap on WhatsApp?

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Did load-shedding cost the economy R300 billion in 2022? This claim is mostly correct.  https://bit.ly/loadshedding_economy No, you can’t ‘eliminate’ varicose veins with rosemary and laurel. There is no cure for the condition.  https://bit.ly/varicoseveins_cure Yes, WhatsApp is still encrypted. Ignore...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Eminem did not endorse the EFF opposition party in South Africa, this video is a deepfake.  https://bit.ly/eminem_eff Yes, the top three billionaires do own more wealth than the poorest 26 million citizens in South Africa.  https://bit.ly/wealth_inequality If...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds:  Is South Africa the most unequal country in the world? Yes, but there are problems with cross-country comparisons.  https://bit.ly/southafrica_unequal No, the South African Reserve Bank did not give a performance award to a bank in Orania.  https://bit.ly/sarb_orania Did Microsoft announce plans...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: SCAM ALERT: A false message claims to offer prepaid electricity to the public through unverified WhatsApp numbers.  https://bit.ly/prepaid_electricity Does this video show supporters of South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party? No, it shows a May Day rally in the Dominican Republic.  https://bit.ly/...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters party is not making fake identity documents for migrants.  https://bit.ly/eff_fakeidentity Is aluminium in vaccines or aluminium foil bad for your health? No, these claims are false.  https://bit.ly/aluminium_health Does this image show a mobile phone facto...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into election misinformation: Investigating claims made by the ruling African National Congress during its annual January 8th statement.  https://africacheck.info/ancstatement_southafrica Why it’s important to debunk misinformation ahead of the 2024 general elections in South Africa. Tips to help you spot and debunk election mi...

In our first episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” for 2024, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Not all Oreo biscuits are halal but NONE of them are made with pig’s milk.  https://bit.ly/oreo_milk Do some common South African foods contain graphene oxide? Nope.  https://bit.ly/food_grapheneoxide No, CBD gummies won’t cure your tinnitus, and may make ringing in your ears worse.&nbsp...

It’s our last episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” this year. We’re looking back at four claims from 2023: Yes, it is possible that drinking too much water can be lethal.  https://bit.ly/water_intoxication Do NOT throw flour on a fire - flour is a fuel that can itself catch fire. Ignore this widely shared advice.  https://bit.ly/fire_flour No, you still don’t risk catching leptospirosis...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, this video does not show looting in South Africa by an opposition party to protest the sale of Israeli products.  https://bit.ly/southafrica_looting Does this video show South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa having a ‘chip’ scanned? No, he is having his temperature taken.  https://bit.ly/ramapho...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: Did Russian president Vladimir Putin warn the US not to interfere in the Israel-Hamas war? No!  https://bit.ly/putin_us Do antibiotics make you depressed? There’s some link, but social media mangles the facts.  https://bit.ly/antibiotics_depressed Stick to doctor-prescribed TB medication - there i...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: Don’t believe this fake post. South African president Ramaphosa did not apologise to ‘the people of Zimbabwe’.  https://bit.ly/ramaphosa_zimbabwe Beware of this dangerous advice! Colloidal silver cannot be used as an antibiotic or HIV medication.  https://bit.ly/colloidalsilver_antibiotic Does this vid...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into climate change misinformation: Has South Africa beat its climate goal through load shedding?  https://bit.ly/climate_loadshedding Climate change denial - watch out for these false claims. How do we stop it? Tips for spotting and debunking climate misinformation. Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them t...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:  This video of a massive wave crashing into a restaurant is from KwaZulu-Natal, not the Western Cape.  https://bit.ly/sa_floodvideo Can unripe pawpaw cure diabetes, high blood pressure or ulcers? No, be wary of this home remedy.  https://bit.ly/pawpaw_benefits Tedros Ghebreyesus did get vaccinated...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: Ignore widely shared videos on WhatsApp and do NOT throw flour on a fire. It is a fuel which can itself catch alight.  https://bit.ly/fire_flour Do you need to take ‘three half minute pauses’ to avoid ‘sudden unexpected death’ when waking up at night? Nope.  https://bit.ly/sleep_waking No, Zoom updates...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, this old video doesn’t show South African president Cyril Ramaphosa speaking about ‘farm murders’.  https://bit.ly/ramaphosa_video Will restricting sugar, and drinking hot lemon water or coconut oil make cancer ‘disappear’? No!  https://bit.ly/sugar_cancer Did Russian nuclear bombers land in South...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, depression is not a result of ‘highs’ from certain foods and substances.  https://bit.ly/depression_food Can castor oil break up cancerous breast tumours? Nope, controversial naturopath is wrong again.  https://bit.ly/castoroil_tumour Got a minor burn wound? Don’t use Epsom salts, hold it under run...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: Is the northern hemisphere cooling? No, all of the world is warming – and there are higher temperatures in the north.  https://bit.ly/northern_cooling No, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere won’t increase food production and reducing it won’t lead to a ‘dead planet’.  https://bit.ly/carbon_atmospher...

On our 100th episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into health misinformation: Can you prevent or cure cancer by “detoxifying” the body or making it less acidic?  https://bit.ly/cures_cancer Trends in health misinformation on What’s Crap on WhatsApp. Tips and tricks for avoiding dodgy health advice and quack cures. Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell the...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: There is no cure for endometriosis, claims about a home remedy drink are false.  https://bit.ly/endometriosis_cure Is South Africa’s R10 banknote now a blue colour, instead of green? No!  https://bit.ly/blue_banknote Beware! The South African government is not giving away 10GB of data to every househol...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: Will South Africa get a new R500 note? No, this is an old claim from 2009.  https://bit.ly/southafrica_banknote There is no evidence garlic-infused water can treat yeast infections, rather seek medical advice.  https://bit.ly/garlic_yeast No, there is no evidence South Africa’s governing party will ‘lo...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, South Africans don’t usually pay for blood transfusions and aren’t paid to donate.  https://bit.ly/southafrica_blood Can a home remedy of aloe vera, fresh ginger, pineapple and soursop cure cancer “effectively”? No!  https://bit.ly/remedy_cancer No, Apeel’s edible “peel” won’t “kill you slowly” and...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: Will the South African national broadcaster introduce annual car radio license's? Nope, this statement is fake.  https://bit.ly/sabc_licence Do paracetamol pills stamped P-500 contain Machupo virus? No, this is an old hoax.  https://bit.ly/machupo_paracetamol Can you pour charcoal on a wound to extract...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, leaves from the plantain plant are not a remedy for venomous snake bites and scorpion stings.  https://bit.ly/plantain_venom Are you at risk of catching leptospirosis when drinking from a tin can? No, ignore false warning.  https://bit.ly/leptospirosis_can Vaccines do not cause magnetism and there...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into false claims about water: Is the water use in South Africa’s Gauteng province “far” above the world average?  https://bit.ly/water_use_sa Is high consumption to blame for water restrictions in South Africa?  https://bit.ly/high_consumption Can it be true? Debunking widely shared claims about water.  https://bit.l...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds: A ghost statistic has been cited again, there is still no UN recommended police-to-population ratio.  https://bit.ly/police_population   Is Bill Gates practising population control through vaccines? No, this video combines two speeches out of context.  https://bit.ly/gates_population No, there has...