THE DEBUNK

Researchers and regulators say Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician, creates and profits from misleading claims about Covid-19 vaccines.

Underneath a patina of satire, J.P. Sears is a New Age charlatan.

Introduction Rumors and conspiracy theories, can contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Monitoring online data related to COVID-19 vaccine candidates can track vaccine misinformation in real-time and assist in negating its impact. This study aimed to examine COVID-19 vaccine rumors and conspiracy theories circulating on online platforms, understand their context, and then review interventions to manage this misinformation and increase vaccine acceptance. Method In June 2020, a multi-disciplinary team was formed to review and collect online rumors and conspiracy theories between 31 December 2019–30 November 2020. Sources included Google, Google Fact Check, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, fact-checking agency websites, and television and newspaper websites. Quantitative data were extracted, entered in an Excel spreadsheet, and analyzed descriptively using the statistical package R version 4.0.3. We conducted a content analysis of the qualitative information from news articles, online reports and blogs and compared with findings from quantitative data. Based on the fact-checking agency ratings, information was categorized as true, false, misleading, or exaggerated. Results We identified 637 COVID-19 vaccine-related items: 91% were rumors and 9% were conspiracy theories from 52 countries. Of the 578 rumors, 36% were related to vaccine development, availability, and access, 20% related to morbidity and mortality, 8% to safety, efficacy, and acceptance, and the rest were other categories. Of the 637 items, 5% (30/) were true, 83% (528/637) were false, 10% (66/637) were misleading, and 2% (13/637) were exaggerated. Conclusions Rumors and conspiracy theories may lead to mistrust contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Tracking COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in real-time and engaging with social media to disseminate correct information could help safeguard the public against misinformation.

The Conspirituality Report Oppression Fantasies of White Anti-Vax Moms Sibbio and Standfield co-opt First Nations genocide, Holocaust Susan Standfield and Stephanie Sibbio are co-founders of 100 …

BILL Gates’ divorce from his wife Melinda has sent anti-vaxxers, QAnon believers and a host of other conspiracy theorists into overdrive. Microsoft boss Gates and his wife have become a light…

Mark Zuckerberg wanted to make his social network a reliable source about the pandemic. Instead he’s helped spread misinformation about vaccines causing infertility.

The company’s AI algorithms gave it an insatiable habit for lies and hate speech. Now the man who built them can't fix the problem.

Open Thread: Have You Lost a Loved One to a Conspiracy Theory? The past four years have transformed fringe theories into mainstream movements. How has it changed us? In a new investigation for GEN …

As the conspiracy theories continue to creep northward, experts warn that we should be prepared for anything

The latest antivax claim is that COVID-19 vaccines are not vaccines, but rather gene therapy or medical devices. The claim is, of course, nonsense.

September is the time of the year when the CDC, state public health authorities, and doctors urge everyone to be vaccinated against the flu. In the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, that means antivaxxer

In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, to antivaxxers lipid nanoparticles are the new mercury.

Two psychiatrists offer advice on distinguishing between belief in conspiracies and outright delusions.

Don’t try to change someone else’s mind. Instead, help them find their own motivation to change.

A video shared over 8,300 times on Facebook makes false claims about the optional microchip that could be contained within the syringes label of the eventual COVID-19 vaccine. The video alleges that the microchip “would give officials information on who has and has not been vaccinated” and “track the location of the patient”. These claims are false.

Figures from the new age, wellness and alternative lifestyle scenes have fallen down the COVID conspiracy rabbit hole, forming an unlikely anti-lockdown alliance with the far-right.

The Great Reset conspiracy theory blends together legitimate critiques with truly dangerous anti-vaccination fantasies and outright coronavirus denialism.

People tracking their descent into paranoia are already concerned about what could go wrong.

It’s no secret that political candidates running for office face a barrage of personal attacks on the campaign trail — t

Nonsense does as well as facts on social media, and it’s hard to separate the unorthodox from the entirely unreal, writes Navneet Alang.

QAnon, the baseless far-right conspiracy theory, has gone from anonymous message boards into the mainstream. It's even found a home in the yoga world.

Self-enhancement through spiritual practices can fool some of us into thinking we’re evolving and growing when all we’re growing is our ego

Unproven technologies, unsafe ingredients and inadequate testing — fortunately, current law prohibits mandating unlicensed vaccines approved for “emergency use.”

Fans of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory are clogging anti-trafficking hotlines, infiltrating Facebook groups and raising false fears about child exploitation.

President Trump has refused to concede the election while alleging widespread voter fraud, without evidence, and mounting legal challenges in several states. Here's what to know about these claims and the latest on lawsuits challenging election results.

If the authorities can’t satisfy the public’s desire to know more, others will fill the void with misinformation.

Donald Trump's embrace of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug unproven in treating COVID-19, has directly contradicted guidance of top agencies and officials.