Fake news: Vaccines have no link with 5G networks

PUNE: Several conspiracy theories can be found floating about on social media. And during a pandemic, misinformation can prove to be severely disruptive.
One of the most bizarre claims has been the supposed link between Covid and 5G network. Conspiracy theorists, in numerous posts, have said that the Covid-19 vaccines are just another attempt by world governments to connect people to 5G networks. Such claims have been found circulating on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp.
According to news reports, claims that "nanoparticles inside vaccines" are being used to link people with 5G networks, have been circulating on message boards and blogs since last year.
The claims went on to cause real-world damage when in April 2020, more than 80 5G towers in the UK were set on fire. Police added that at least 40 employees of a service provider were also attacked.
The Times Verified service has picked up messages pushing the 5G theory. One message urged social media users to help stop 5G testing "to save lives".
An analysis by The New York Times last year found that the 5G conspiracy theory, during Covid, was pushed by at least 487 Facebook communities, 84 Instagram accounts and 52 Twitter accounts. The newspaper said that on YouTube, the 10 most popular 5G conspiracy videos, posted in March, had been viewed "over 5.8 million times".
The 5G-coronavirus conspiracy has since been found in social networks across more than 30 countries, it said.