Beware of online 'experts'

Recently, the medical community has repeatedly warned about the misuse of lemon juice mixed with coarse salt by many people as a "cure-all," from treating acid reflux and HIV to even incurable diseases like cancer.

Furthermore, many patients even abandon specialized treatments, opting instead for lemon water mixed with salt, despite the warned consequences. For example, last year, a 47-year-old man arbitrarily stopped taking his blood pressure medication, switched to drinking concentrated lemon water with salt, and spent his days sunbathing to "detoxify," leading to sudden death.

This situation is a consequence of following advice from social media sources who lack relevant expertise. Previously, social media influencers and celebrities promoted false claims about the effectiveness of certain foods and drinks. Now, however, many such figures have suddenly emerged seemingly out of nowhere. This is becoming increasingly worrying as these unverified "experts" frequently offer unscientific advice on treating various illnesses, even incurable ones.

It's not just in health and medicine; many other fields also see countless "experts" with no relevant professional background constantly offering advice. As a result, the proliferation of misleading and inaccurate information on social media is escalating, leading to numerous negative consequences.

In the medical field, not only is there misleading information about lemon water with coarse salt, but also instructions to drink high doses of apple cider vinegar, extreme fasting, or detoxing with homemade chemical mixtures… which experts warn can cause esophageal burns, electrolyte imbalance, or liver and kidney damage. Legally, misinformation about workers' rights, how to "legalize" tax evasion, or customs regulations can lead users to unknowingly violate the law… In investment, information about investing in stocks, cryptocurrencies, or "easy-to-succeed investment tips" has become a trap causing serious financial losses for many people. In information technology, posts instructing how to "remove viruses," "how to crack wifi passwords," and many other tricks carry risks when downloading applications, clicking on links, and getting infected with malware, leading to data loss and bank account theft. Regarding other skills, instructions on repairing electrical appliances, mixing chemicals, etc., should ideally be performed with certain professional knowledge; otherwise, they pose a danger.

Despite the risks, many people still blindly follow these instructions and suffer the consequences. In reality, numerous legal regulations can now be applied to address these behaviors, and various ministries and agencies are further refining these regulations. Most recently, the Ministry of Health proposed fines ranging from 10 to 30 million VND for disseminating false medical information.

While authorities are stepping up efforts to address violations, individuals need to be vigilant against information and guidance from unverified "experts" on social media. This is how to protect oneself from risks.

According to Hoang Dinh (TNO)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/can-than-voi-chuyen-gia-tren-mang-post586247.html