How to read a health claim shared online

"DOCTORS HATE THIS! Boil three moringa leaves with garlic and drink every morning — diabetes CURED in 7 days!!! Share before they delete it!"

You've probably seen messages like this. They arrive in family WhatsApp groups, on Facebook, in TikTok videos, sometimes forwarded by people you love and respect. Some are harmless. Some are dangerous — for example, when people stop taking prescribed medicine because they believe a "miracle cure."

Health claims online can be tricky. Some contain a grain of truth, wrapped in exaggeration. Some are completely invented. Some are real but misunderstood.

How can you read a health claim shared online and decide whether to trust it, question it or ignore it?

Note: This article helps you evaluate information. It's not medical advice. Always talk to a qualified health professional about your health.

Why health claims spread so easily

Health rumours spread fast because they:

• Offer hope (especially for chronic or scary illnesses).
• Promise simple, cheap solutions.
• Use emotional language (fear, anger, urgency).
• Blame powerful enemies ("Big Pharma," "the government," "doctors").
• Come from people we trust.
• Ask us to share "to protect others."

A 2018 MIT study published in Science found false news spread farther and faster than true news on Twitter, partly because it was more novel and emotional. See What makes health information easy to trust?.

False stories on Twitter reached 1,500 people about six times faster than true stories. (Vosoughi, Roy & Aral, Science, 2018) Speed is the enemy of accuracy. Slowing down is the first defence.

The SIFT method: four moves

Digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield created a simple method called SIFT to check information quickly:

S — Stop Before you share or believe, pause. Ask: Do I know this source? How does this make me feel? Strong emotions are a warning sign.

I — Investigate the source Who is behind this? A doctor? A health ministry? A company selling products? An anonymous account? Search their name.

F — Find better coverage Look for the same claim from trusted sources: WHO, your Ministry of Health, major hospitals, reputable news outlets, fact-checkers like Africa Check. If no trusted source reports it, be careful.

T — Trace claims to the original Where did the claim start? Is there a real study? Does the study say what the message claims?

Joke break: If a message says "Doctors don't want you to know this," ask yourself: which doctors? All of them? Did they have a meeting? Was there food? Most doctors can't even agree on where to go for lunch.

Eight red flags in health claims

Real treatments usually work for specific conditions, with limits.

• "Miracle cure" or "cures everything"

All effective medicines can have side effects. Honest sources mention them.

• "100% guaranteed" or "no side effects"

Pressure to share quickly is designed to stop you thinking.

• Urgency: "Share before they delete it!"

"A doctor at a big hospital said…" Which doctor? Which hospital?

• No named source

"They are hiding the truth." Real science is published and debated openly.

• Conspiracy language

If the message ends with a phone number to buy a product, be very careful.

• Selling something

"My aunt drank this and was cured." One story isn't proof. Many things can explain why someone felt better.

• Testimonials instead of evidence

A real news story from 2015 may be shared as if it's new, or a study on mice may be presented as proof for humans.

• Old or out-of-context information

Understanding "studies"

Many claims say "Studies show…" But not all studies are equal:

• Test tube or animal studies: early research; results often don't apply to humans.
• Small human studies: interesting, but can be wrong by chance.
• Large, well-designed trials: stronger evidence.
• Systematic reviews: combine many studies; usually the strongest evidence.

Also ask: Who funded the study? Was it published in a respected journal? Did other researchers confirm the results?

Example: A plant extract might kill a virus in a test tube. That doesn't mean drinking the plant will cure a disease in people. Bleach also kills viruses in a test tube — and we definitely shouldn't drink bleach.

Traditional remedies: respect and questions

Many African communities use traditional and herbal medicine, and some plants do contain useful compounds. Artemisinin, a key malaria drug, came from a plant (sweet wormwood) used in traditional Chinese medicine — and its discovery won Tu Youyou a Nobel Prize in 2015.

But "natural" doesn't automatically mean "safe" or "effective." Some herbal products can be harmful, interact with medicines or be contaminated.

A respectful but careful approach:

• Ask: Has this been tested in humans? For which condition?
• Tell your health worker about any herbal products you use.
• Never stop prescribed treatment (for HIV, diabetes, hypertension, TB, epilepsy, etc.) without talking to a health professional.

WHO works with African countries on research into traditional medicine, and the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine supports evidence-based approaches.

A worked example

Let's apply SIFT to our opening message: "Moringa and garlic cure diabetes in 7 days."

Stop: The message is dramatic, promises a cure and urges sharing. Warning signs. Investigate: No named doctor or organisation. Ends with a number to buy "moringa capsules." Selling something. Find better coverage: Searching WHO and health ministry sites shows no such cure. Diabetes is a chronic condition managed with diet, exercise and medicine. Trace: Some small studies have looked at moringa and blood sugar, mostly in animals or small groups. None show a "cure in 7 days."

Conclusion: Misleading and potentially dangerous if people stop their diabetes medicine. Don't share. If someone in your group shares it, reply kindly with reliable information.

"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." — widely attributed to Mark Twain (probably not his; the idea is much older)

How to respond to family and friends

Correcting someone, especially an elder, can be delicate. Tips:

• Be kind and private: send a personal message instead of correcting them in the group.
• Show you share their concern: "I know you want to protect us."
• Share a trusted source: a link from the Ministry of Health, WHO or a fact-checker.
• Ask questions: "Where did this come from? Do we know who wrote it?"
• Don't shame. People who feel attacked defend their position.

Trusted sources to check

• World Health Organization (who.int) and WHO Africa (afro.who.int).
• Your country's Ministry of Health.
• National public health institutes.
• Africa CDC (africacdc.org).
• Fact-checkers: Africa Check, and national fact-checking organisations.
• Your local clinic, pharmacist or community health worker.

For checking claims about Africa in general, see A practical way to check a claim about Africa.

Teaching health literacy to young people

Young people see a lot of health content on TikTok and Instagram — about diets, fitness, skin care, mental health. Schools and parents can teach:

• The SIFT method.
• How to recognise ads disguised as advice.
• How to check influencers' credentials.
• That "before and after" photos can be edited.

See How young people can care for their well-being.

An illustrative story: the grandmother fact-checker

In an illustrative family group from Porto-Novo, a grandmother we'll call Mémé Agossou (illustrative) became famous for one sentence. Every time someone forwarded a dramatic health message, she replied: "Who said it, and where is it written?"

At first, her grandchildren laughed. Then they started checking before sharing, just to avoid her question. Within a few months, the group had far fewer "miracle cure" messages — and a lot more discussion about where information came from.

You don't need special training to protect your family from misinformation. Sometimes you just need one good question, asked every time.

Common health myths to watch for

Some claims circulate again and again across Africa. Examples of claims health authorities have repeatedly corrected include:

• That certain vaccines cause infertility (not supported by evidence).
• That drinking very hot water or specific herbal teas can cure viral infections.
• That antibiotics treat colds and flu (they don't work on viruses).
• That malaria can be prevented by eating particular foods instead of using nets and medicines.

When you see a claim like these, check with your health ministry, WHO or a health worker before believing or sharing it.

Pause, check, then share

The next time a surprising health claim appears on your phone, remember: stop, investigate, find better coverage, trace the claim. It takes a few minutes. It might protect someone's health.

Your doubt isn't rude. It's responsible.

Keep reading: The role of local languages in health communication, Why local action needs good information, and our Health & Well-being section.

Questions

How can I tell if a health claim online is fake?

Watch for miracle promises, no named source, urgency to share, conspiracy language, products for sale and testimonials instead of evidence. Use the SIFT method to check.

What is the SIFT method?

A four-step method by Mike Caulfield: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace claims to the original.

Are herbal remedies safe?

Some plants have useful effects, but "natural" doesn't mean safe or effective. Always tell your health worker what you use and never stop prescribed treatment without advice.