Since the pandemic started, there have been countless conspiracy theories that

are circulating on the internet. One of the famous ones was the theories about the virus

that it was made for biological warfare, that it was a weapon used by China to take over

the world. Another conspiracy was that covid was produced in a laboratory by scientists

that wanted to doom our planet. Some people believe it doesn't exist; they refuse to

obey safety protocols and get vaccinated. The Philippines has a wide variety of cultures,

practices, and beliefs, and it affected how the virus affected us. Some people believe

that vaccines could turn you into zombies, and there are more absurd theories about it

until today. One of the most prominent issues sparked on social media is ivermectin

usage. Some people spread misinformation on how ivermectin could cure the virus. A

lot of people bought it, and some even endorsed it. Filipinos are very easy to manipulate

because they are uneducated in social media; some people would believe in the

information or news that they read from unknown accounts. According to the results of a

Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll conducted in December 2021, the majority of
Filipinos (51%) found it challenging to recognize fake news on television, radio, or social

media.

On March 31, a YouTube video from the channel "DDS NEWSINFO" allegedly

claimed that the medicine called Ivermectin had been approved in the Philippines as a

COVID-19 treatment. The video was titled "BREAKING NEWS APRIL 1, 2021: PRES

DUTERTE GOOD NEWS | TULFO CONG DEFENSOR IVERMECTIN APPROBADO

NA!". The screenshot from above is a reupload of the video; YouTube deleted the

original video from YouTube as it gained hundreds of thousands of views and exposed

fake information violating the rules in content uploading on the website. After the user

uploaded the video, individuals made a lot of copycats, and the information that

Ivermectin is approved as a cure for covid-19 was spreading quickly. When the user

posted the clips, the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not yet given

a permit to use Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment. The FDA granted limited

permission to one institution exclusively to utilize Ivermectin for COVID-19 therapy. The

fact that the drug has a permit does not mean it has been proven effective or that the

FDA has previously recommended it. The screenshot of the video shows that the

channel is very sketchy and it doesn’t have much subscribers for it to be trusted. The

video is in a low quality and the photoshopped images were very obvious. The audio too

is not clear and it can be clipped from a video that can be taken out of context.

The only Ivermectin that is legal in the Philippines – and is easily marketed online

– is the one for animals, which is used to treat heartworm disease. Ivermectin is only

available in topical forms under prescription in the United States for humans. COVID-19

still has no approved treatment. The Philippines' FDA granted a limited permit to use
Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment in one hospital. However, this does not ensure its

safety or efficacy. The FDA has approved ivermectin pills for the treatment of intestinal

strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, two parasitic worm-related diseases. In addition,

several topical ivermectin formulations are licensed for the treatment of external

parasites such as head lice and skin conditions. Ivermectin is not safe when taken in an

innumerable amount. Even at levels allowed for human usage, Ivermectin can interact

with other drugs, such as blood thinners. Ivermectin can potentially overdose a person

and can, cause vomiting, hypotension, allergic reactions, and it can lead to death. The

only cure for covid-19 is getting vaccinated as well as obeying safety protocols and

practicing preventive measures. Physical or social separation, cough and sneeze

covers, hand washing, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face are all

examples of preventive measures. In public places, wearing face masks or coverings

has been recommended to reduce the risk of transmission.

The fake news and misinformation that this video caused can be harmful to our

citizens. The Ivermectin would be in demand, and some people would try to create fake

ones that can harm a person's health. Individuals would also horde buy these medicines

and try to sell them for a higher price. From a video that is viewed by thousands of

people, they could spread it to others, and with this, thousands can turn into millions

quickly. The fake news that this conspiracy could spark is inevitable, as not every

Filipino is educated enough to research and gain knowledge about it. Some are just

hearing it from others, and they instantly believe it. Filipinos, especially those who are

not used to social media, are vulnerable and very easy to manipulate. The long-term

effect of this misinformation is that Filipinos could have an idea that these simple
medicines could cure or prevent viruses. If there's a next virus that would cause another

pandemic, the Filipinos could think that there's another Ivermectin-like medicine that can

cure them and not wait for vaccines and not obey safety protocols.

As a student of this course, it is my responsibility to educate people and prevent

fake news and post with misinformation to be spread online. It is important that we

evaluate what we see on social media. Fact-check every piece of information that you

see, and don't be afraid to check credible sources about the topic. It is better to judge

hard that to not judge. It is better to be safely educated than to be misinformed. With the

pandemic still occurring, it is important to follow credible sources only as they provide

legitimate news and information that could help us to overcome this pandemic. It is our

responsibility, as citizens, to stop spreading fake news and work together to educate

those who are having difficulties identifying what is real and what is not. As citizens of

the Philippines, we must be against fake news and manipulation, we must fight for

freedom, and we must use our knowledge and skills to know what is real or not. Social

media is a very dangerous place, and we should be careful about what we share or post

because info on social media and viruses are very alike; they spread easily.

References

Rappler. (2021, April 9). FALSE: Ivermectin approved as COVID-19 cure in the

Philippines.

RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/ivermectin-approved-

covid-19-cure-philippines/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
US FDA. (2021, March 5). Why you should not use Ivermectin to treat or prevent

COVID-19. U.S. Food and Drug

Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-

should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19