What's Crap on WhatsApp?

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Will this pricey herbal mix cure HIV? Nope! https://bit.ly/hiv_claims

Can bitter kola eye drops cure glaucoma, myopia and other eye problems? No, see a doctor instead. https://bit.ly/kola_eyedrops

No, this photo does not show a road riddled with potholes in Harare, Zimbabwe. https://bit.ly/zimbabwe_potholes

No, this 2018 photo does not show Kenyan president Ruto’s ‘new signal jammer’. https://bit.ly/ruto_jammer

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into loadshedding:

What is loadshedding and how does it work?

Viral claims about Eskom, its employees and their salaries.

Why debunking widely-shared claims about trending topics, like loadshedding, is important.

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Can drinking too much water be lethal? Yes, it’s possible. https://bit.ly/water_intoxication

Did Nigeria’s information minister say voters are only interested in freebies from politicians? No! https://bit.ly/nigeriaminister_quote

Did South Africa’s provincial minister say she had “never seen any white people being struck by lightning”? No! https://bit.ly/sa_lightning

Has Fifa requested to keep soccer legend Pelé’s feet for historical reasons? No! https://bit.ly/pele_feet

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

Welcome back! On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Is just 6% of the African population vaccinated against Covid-19? No!  https://bit.ly/african_vaccination

Do climate activists and the World Economic Forum want to ‘slaughter’ your pets? No! https://bit.ly/activists_pets

Does this photo show a well-known port in Durban that has, in 2022, become a “dumping site”, filled with litter? No! https://bit.ly/port_dumping

Are these giveaways on “koop en verkoop” Facebook groups, Afrikaans for “buy and sell”, genuine? No! https://bit.ly/koopen_verkoop

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look back at four of the craziest claims from 2022:

No, baking soda is not a miracle cure that treats cancer and kills viruses. https://bit.ly/bakingsoda_cure

A graphic warns people not to buy “biscuits called crunches” shipped from South Africa to Nigeria as they have “killed 45 people”. Don’t fall for it - it’s an old hoax! https://bit.ly/poisonous_biscuits

Are Zimbabweans selling their toes because of poverty? No! https://bit.ly/zimbabwe_toes

This video misunderstands the proposed SA trespassing bill - you still have the right to defend yourself from home invaders. https://bit.ly/sa_invaders

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. We’re taking a short break over December, see you in 2023!

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Does new Twitter owner Elon Musk plan to restore accounts of all banned users, except Donald Trump? No! https://bit.ly/musk_trump

No, DuckDuckGo CEO didn’t say the search engine would ‘purge’ independent media. https://bit.ly/duckduck_go

Has there been a typhoid fever ‘outbreak’ in South Africa? Nope. https://bit.ly/typhoid_sa

No evidence Kenyan cabinet secretary said police would start wearing pocketless uniforms to stop corruption. https://bit.ly/kenya_policeuniform

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Can venomous snake bites be cured by the bark of a cashew tree? No, seek medical attention! https://bit.ly/venomoussnake_bite

Are these ‘behaviours’ football fans must avoid in Qatar during the 2022 Fifa world cup? Not quite. https://bit.ly/qatar_worldcup

No, China is NOT building police stations in Nigeria, and hasn’t taken over its customs service. https://bit.ly/chinanigeria_police

Pfizer employees have been getting vaccinated against Covid-19, don’t believe rumours to the contrary. https://bit.ly/pfizeremployees_vaccine

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into online scams, looking at:

How to spot scams on social media. Our guide details the red flags: https://bit.ly/scam_guide

How job scams prey on desperate job seekers: https://bit.ly/scam_analysis

How one of our very own fact-checkers almost got scammed: https://bit.ly/scam_factchecker

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Do silver fillings cause serious health problems? There’s no evidence of harm for most people. https://bit.ly/fillings_silver

Is the government monitoring your WhatsApp? No, ignore old hoax. https://bit.ly/government_whatsapp

Is US comedian Steve Harvey in Nigeria to campaign for presidential hopeful Peter Obi? No. https://bit.ly/nigeria_harvey

No, US president Joe Biden not whispering into South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s ear at queen Elizabeth’s funeral. https://bit.ly/ramaphosa_biden

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.

Show notes:On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we look at four claims doing the rounds:

Do Covid vaccines cause the body to produce toxic spike proteins that cause cancer? No! https://bit.ly/vaccine_cancer

No South Africa, you can’t apply for government housing through a dodgy link on Facebook. https://bit.ly/rdp_housing

Does this video show footage of a footbridge collapsing in South Africa? Nope. https://bit.ly/bridge_sa

No, Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa was not barred from attending queen Elizabeth’s funeral. https://bit.ly/zimbabwe_elizabeth

Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number.