Watch out for fake facts online, in the mail

By CJ Blomquist

OptumCare

There’s been a lot of news about the COVID-19 vaccine these days. But there’s also been a lot of fake news about it, too. It’s the same as with any health issue. Whether in the mailbox, your inbox or your social media feed, you have probably seen some of the headlines below.

So how do you figure out what is true and what is fake? Here are some helpful tips: It’s too good to be true. “This berry protects against coronavirus, influenza, hepatitis and heart disease!” A single berry that can prevent multiple diseases? Eating healthy can help lower your risks for many diseases, but if just one food item could protect against all these diseases, don’t you think everyone would know?

Outrageous headlines. “You’ll be SHOCKED when you see how DANGEROUS this common household cleaner is!!!” Sensational headlines, complete with capitalized words and multiple exclamation points, are desperate to grab your attention. You wouldn’t see this from a reputable news organization.

You don’t know the source.

“ StopCancerNaturalFoods.com is the ONLY source for curing cancer the natural way!” Stopping cancer and eating healthy are things many people want. . . but that website name is awfully odd. Fake news sites often use strange names that prey on our emotions.

It’s a secret just for you. “Doctors haven’t found this simple cure for arthritis. Click here to discover it for yourself!” Who doesn’t want to be in on some big secret? It sounds exciting! But that’s exactly how these sites work. Ask yourself why an article on Facebook or in a magazine knows what doctors and scientists don’t? It doesn’t add up.

If you see an article, post or email that looks questionable, don’t click on it. If it’s something you’re interested in, such as eating healthy to prevent diseases, go to a reputable site to learn more instead (e.g., www.cdc.gov). The information may not be as splashy and fun, but at least you’ll know it’s accurate.