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.
From politics to the entertainment industry, this past week saw several popular faces from different fields being subject to online misinformation. While a leading news outlet misquoted PM Narendra Modi’s remark on Gujarat’s development, several social media users were taken back as fake news of singer Udit Narayan’s death went viral. From an old image of a tumbledown house falsely linked to a recent encounter in Kashmir to a manipulated video of RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, here are our top 5 debunks from the past week.
Did PM Modi Take Dig At Self, BJP Over Development of Gujarat’s Coast? Here’s The Truth
Several social media users shared a screenshot of a tweet by NDTV, where PM Narendra Modi purportedly criticised the “lack of efforts” to develop Gujarat’s coastline. Twitter users were quick to point out that the PM held the post of the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, along with being in power in the Centre since 2014. Newschecker found that PM Modi criticised the previous non-BJP governments for neglecting Gujarat’s coastline. He was misquoted in the NDTV tweet. Read more here.
Viral Post Claiming Singer Udit Narayan’s Death Due To Heart Attack Is A Hoax
Social media users were taken aback after rumours of singer Udit Narayan’s demise took the internet by storm, making him the latest star to fall victim to the ‘celebrity death hoax’. The rumour was widely shared on Facebook with captions that ranged from “Famous singer Udit Narayan no more”, “Udit Narayan died of heart attack, “RIP Udit Narayan.” Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. The singer did not suffer any heart attack and is doing fine. Read more here.
Old Image Of House Damaged During Encounter In Kashmir Shared As Recent
Soon after reports of an encounter in J&K’s Baramulla, several social media handles and media outlets shared images showing a house in rubles, claiming that it was destroyed during the recent encounter. Newschecker investigation revealed that the image claiming to show a house destroyed in the recent Baramulla encounter is actually from an encounter site in Pulwama in May 2020, in which HM commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed. Read more here.
UPI Apps Fraud: Viral Video Of RBI Governor Announcing Helpline Numbers Is Edited
A viral “public awareness” video allegedly showing the RBI governor giving advice is doing the rounds on social media. In the viral video, one can see Shaktikanta Das ‘advising’ citizens on how to block their digital payment apps like Google Pay, PayTM, PhonePe in case their mobile phones get stolen. Newschecker found that the viral video of the RBI governor announcing helplines to help block your digital wallets was edited. The clip combined the video of one of the governor’s addresses with the audio of an FB reel by a digital creator. Read more here.
Viral Image Of ‘Mite That Lives On Our Faces’ Is Actually Of A Silkworm
An image of an organism is going viral on social media, with users claiming it to be the micrograph of a mite called Demodex that lives on the human face and eyelashes. Demodex is a microscopic eight-legged organism that lives in or near hair follicles of mammals and typically comes out at night to feast on dead skin cells before retreating to their hiding spots to lay eggs. Newschecker found that the viral image claiming to show “Demodex mite” is actually a micrograph of a silkworm. Read more here.
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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.
