Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
An alleged CCTV video showing an army man helping a woman stranded on a busy road by replacing a flat tyre of her car is going viral on social media with users pouring in respects and tributes for the army men and believing it to be a true incident. Newschecker found the video to be scripted and made for entertainment and educational purposes.
The two-minute and fifty-two-second-long video shows a woman seeking help from passersby to replace a tyre of her car when a bike rider shows up, and starts to misbehave with her. The miscreant is seen fleeing as an army man approaches, who then replaces the flat tyre of the woman’s car.
The video is being shared and viewed widely on Facebook.
You can find links to such Facebook posts here, here, here and here.
Several scripted videos created for “social awareness” or “educational and entertainment purposes” find their way to the social media platforms and in absence of proper disclaimer users are misled into believing that the video actually shows a real incident.
Newschecker has debunked several such scripted videos that were passed off as real or genuine on social media platforms. You can read our fact checks here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
We looked up “Respect Army”, “Army Videos” on Facebook and found the same video was uploaded on a Facebook page called ‘Amazing Video’ on March 5, 2022 with the caption “Respect Army.” The video was posted with a disclaimer, “Thank you for watching! Please be aware that this page features scripted dramas and parodies as well. These short films are for educational purposes only!”
On analysing the video closely, we found the text “Copyright By 3rd Eye” at the bottom of the clip. Taking a clue, we scanned the YouTube channel of 3rd Eye and found a longer version of the video that was uploaded on February 16, 2022 with the caption, ‘SALUTE TO THIS ARMY PERSON | Alone Girl Saved by Army Man | Social Awareness Video By 3rd Eye.’
At the end of the video we found a disclaimer clarifying that it is a “reel” life footage and the characters are for “education and entertainment purposes.”
We found several “social awareness” videos uploaded on the YouTube channel of 3rd Eye.
Conclusion
The viral video of an army man helping a woman stranded on a busy road is not authentic and is scripted and dramatised for “entertainment & educational purposes only.”
Result: False Context/Missing Context
Sources
YouTube Channel Of 3rd Eye
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
