School of Social Sciences and Education

GED104 Cluster – Science, Technology and Society

Fact Checking 1
(Fake News and Disinformation in the time of COVID-19)

Name: Jayrick C. Moit Professor: Jill Dalisay

Course: BS CESE A16 Date: October 22, 2022

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/wearing-face-masks-causes-bacterial-pneumonia/

In this post, a woman named Lynn Agno explains how wearing masks can cause bacterial pneumonia in
the wearer and will continue to increase, which can lead to the wearer’s death. She said it was the main
reason the Spanish Flu killed millions during the black plague. In her statement, she blamed the mask for
the end of millions of people during the Black Plague, not the Spanish flu. Her statement is already faulty,
and at the same time, her reference is also wrong. She posted this video in 2021 when the pandemic had
just begun and caused chaos and panic worldwide. Her statement about the mask is already a piece of
fake information. And her statement about the Spanish Flu and Black Plague, or she might be referring to
the Black Death, is already faulty. Her statement might’ve caused panic among the people and might
increase the number of infected individuals. Here in the Philippines, many people can get easily fooled by
the posts they see, and they do not spend the time to fact-check them and immediately believe what they
hear or see. So, if someone posts this type of fake information, it can cause more infections and lead to
many deaths. Her posts can affect the way people see COVID-19 in the Philippines. They will think that
wearing masks could also kill them and might not wear them for protection from the COVID-19 virus.

The page Lynn Channel Warriors of Truth posted the video of Lynn Agno, a vlogger, explaining how
the masks can cause bacterial pneumonia. The video is full of false information and baseless claims.
Many posts of Lynn Agno have been marked as false information by the platform where she’s posting. In
the video, at the 30:51 minute mark, she said, “ because of bacterial pneumonia na nakuha sa mask. Kaya
abangan ‘nyo iyan, tataas iyong bacteria, tumaas ang bacteria, at tataas pa iyong bacterial pneumonia na
magko-cause ng maraming deaths. Okay? Hindi iyong virus ng Spanish flu ang maraming kumitil sa
buhay noong Black Plague…kundi iyong bacterial pneumonia na dulot ng pagsusuot ng mask.”. In her
statement, she blamed the mask for the deaths of millions of people from the Spanish Flu during the black
plague, which is incorrect since the Spanish Flu and Black plague are two different outbreaks and
happened in different timelines. Her statement on bacterial pneumonia is also false because she didn’t
base it on anything or a fact that can back up her claim.

The false information and incorrect statements in the videos are that masks can kill their wearer due to the
increase of bacteria in the mask and can cause bacterial pneumonia. The Spanish flu is the virus during
the black plague (black death). But we will focus on the false information about the mask since it’s the
one that can affect the people in the Philippines while they are in the pandemic. We need to correct or
fact-check if the mask can cause bacterial pneumonia and if the bacteria in the mask increases while you
wear it. According to Health Desk, no evidence shows that using the face mask can develop pneumonia or
any other bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in the lungs. And according to Hamer D. (2020). “There’s no
evidence of masks leading to fungal or bacterial infections of the upper airway or the lower airway as in
pneumonia,” He also stated that bacterial growth could only occur theoretically if the person uses a mask
that is already contaminated and moldy. But it is unlikely to happen in the normal use of a mask.

If Lynn Agno continues to post this type of false information, it could get many people in danger and
spread incorrect information that could lead to confusion for many. One of the long-term effects of this
disinformation is that it can make the public believe the people they watch without checking whether the
information they hear or read is factual. Then they will spread it, and the spread of false information will
continue. People like Lynn Agno, who spreads fake news, and false information and manipulates the
people are why many citizens in the Philippines still believe in a type of fake information. Since they post
to platforms where many social and virtually unaware people can get easily fooled by this type of
information.

As a student of STS or a responsible individual who uses the internet, I propose that we should always
check the facts we read about COVID-19 on the internet. Not only about COVID-19 but also all the
things we see on the internet should be carefully examined since fake information are everywhere. One of
my responsibilities is to ensure that whatever I post on the internet or every piece of information I spread
is facts. I should only base and rely on credible sources and information. Since as a student, I should do
my research whenever I try to spread the news so that my statements and sources are reasonable and
factual. I should also correct the false information I see online to help people avoid receiving false
information or fake news.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, March 21). History of 1918 flu pandemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-pandemic-
history.htm

Do masks heighten the risk of 'antibiotic resistant strains of pneumonia' or the risk of developing
pneumonia at all? (2021, September 21). Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://health-
desk.org/articles/do-masks-heighten-the-risk-of-antibiotic-resistant-strains-of-pneumonia-
or-the-risk-of-developing-pneumonia-at-all

False: Wearing face masks causes bacterial pneumonia. RAPPLER. (2021, June 7). Retrieved
October 22, 2022, from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/wearing-face-
masks-causes-bacterial-pneumonia/
Frith, J. (2021, September 14). The history of plague – part 1. the three great pandemics. JMVH.
Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://jmvh.org/article/the-history-of-plague-part-1-the-
three-great-
pandemics/#:~:text=There%20have%20been%20three%20great,and%20economic%20fabr
ic%20of%20society.

Lajka, A. (2020, June 24). Normal use of face masks do not cause pneumonia. AP NEWS.
Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/archive-fact-checking-
9072351115