It’s like a silent epidemic, but instead of viruses, it’s misleading information that’s making us sick. Experts at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) are waving a big red flag, concerned about the tsunami of bad health advice swirling around, especially on crucial topics like vaccines, reproductive health, disease outbreaks, and even the health implications of climate change. What’s truly alarming is how people are increasingly turning to new, often unverified sources for this advice – think dazzling influencers on social media, trendy ‘wellness’ apps that promise cures but deliver little, and even AI chatbots designed to…

In the whirlwind of modern politics, when an election throws up a surprising result – especially when a figure notorious for spreading misinformation triumphs – it’s natural to point fingers and declare that falsehoods carried the day. Conversely, when such a politician faces defeat, there’s an equally strong urge to celebrate, believing truth has finally prevailed and fact-checking has won a decisive victory. However, both reactions miss the fundamental point. The true purpose of fact-checking and counter-disinformation efforts isn’t to dictate who wins or loses an election. Instead, it’s about empowering citizens with reliable information and equipping them with the…