Last Updated on March 12, 2020
False claims that you can get rid of coronavirus by using cocaine gained so much traction in France that the French authorities were forced to publicly address the fake story being pushed on social media such as twitter and Facebook. There was also major spread thanks to and parody news reporting on these fake cures.
“As strange as it seems, the alleged “cure” gained a lot of traction on sites like Twitter, with images of fake or Photoshopped news reports tallying many thousands of likes and comments,” says Mike Wehner of BGR.
The rapid spread of this false claim seem to be rooted in social media. The cocaine cure was shared by several verified accounts with large follower numbers.
#Coronavirus | Désinfox
❌ Non, La cocaïne NE protège PAS contre le #COVID19 .
✅ C’est une drogue addictive provoquant de graves effets indésirables et nocifs pour la santé des personnes.
👉 https://t.co/ajSGwecauL pic.twitter.com/4GZ01Qmg5X— Ministère de la Santé et de l'Accès aux soins (@Sante_Gouv) March 8, 2020
The digital world has been affected in unforeseen ways due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the strain the Wuhan Flu has placed on organizations such as the world health organization false information is just one of the many additional digital service interruptions that we have all experienced.
Online marketplaces such as Facebook and Amazon have had to address fake cures being sold, and there are others who are overcharging for items that are running low in stores such as hand sanitizer and face masks.
Facebook, Twitter, and Google have all announced they will be flagging all misinformation regarding the coronavirus.
Last month Nation File debunked the online rumor that bleach will cure coronavirus, and this week we are here to ask you to please not do cocaine to try to evade the coronavirus.
“Some have promoted MMS (toxic bleach) as a cure for a wide range of conditions from autism to malaria to the flu, leading to the solution’s rise to prominence with assistance through the marketing skills of bootleggers, flogged for around $28 a 4-ounce bottle,” as reported on National File.
