Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
Claim
Excessive use of mobile phones and internet damage brain cells
Newschecker received the claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91 9999499044) to be fact checked.
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Fact
We conducted a thorough investigation into the viral video by breaking down the video into keyframes after which we initiated a reverse image search. One of these keyframes led us to multiple TikTok results, all of which identified the child as the son of PTI leader Mian Ibad Farooq.
We then performed keyword searches for “Mian Ibad Farooq Son,” which directed us to several reports featuring images of the same child seen in the viral video. These reports revealed that the child had recently passed away on September 18, 2023.
According to a report by Daily Pakistan, “A minor son of PTI leader Mian Ibad Farooq, who has been in jail for over 130 days after his arrest in a case related to May 9 violence, died in Lahore after a serious illness.” The article also quoted the deceased child’s uncle, who stated that the child “fell into an illness related to the brain following the arrest of his father.”
Upon further investigation, we uncovered a detailed report published in the Daily Times on September 20, 2023, which indicated that the child, Ammar Ibad, aged 8, was suffering from a “Degenerative Brain Disorder called SSPE (Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis). A rare disorder for which there is no cure and which worsens with time. A disease is known to be triggered by a viral illness such as Measles.”
The report further noted that “Ammar’s medical history has also revealed that he suffered from Measles at the age of 2 and half years. SSPE started affecting Ammar about 3 months ago when family noticed unusual behavior and reduced motor skills. The same was reported by his school. Family was thus aware of Ammar’s brain disorder already.”
Although there is controversy over the passing of the child, with many supporters of the PTI alleging that the child lost his life over the trauma of his father’s incarceration, the reports indicate that the child was suffering from a neurological illness and did not die due to excessive mobile phone use.
Result: False
Sources
Report on Daily Pakistan, published on September 20, 2023
Report on Daily Times, published on September 20, 2023
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
