Philippine social media users face barrage of
bogus medical posts
Philippine vlogger Rosanel Demasudlay holds a
heart-shaped "virginity soap" bar in front of the
camera and assures her hundreds of YouTube
followers it can be safely used to "tighten" their
vaginas. (co thắt âm đạo)
The video is part of a barrage of bogus and
harmful medical posts on social media platforms
where Filipinos rank among the world's heaviest
users.
Even before Covid-19 confined people to their
homes and left them fearful of seeing a doctor,
many in the Philippines sought remedies online
because they were cheaper and easier to access.
During the pandemic, AFP's Fact Check team saw
an explosion of misinformation about untested
cosmetic products and quick-fix treatments for
chronic illnesses.
The majority appear as free posts or paid
advertisements on Facebook, the most popular
social media site among the 76 million internet
users in the Philippines.
They can circulate for weeks or even months
without detection as Facebook struggles to keep
up with the torrent of misinformation flooding its
platform.
While there is no vetting of posts before they go
live, Facebook has a multi-stage, largely
automated, review system to check ads before
they are published.
Many of the products are promoted in videos that
have been doctored to make it look like real
medical professionals are endorsing them.
Others appear in falsified news reports, while
some are touted by vloggers such as Demasudlay.
AFP fact checkers have debunked dozens of
claims, including a manipulated Philippine news
report that appeared to promote a herbal
supplement for diabetics as an alternative to
insulin.
Philippine social media users face barrage of
bogus medical posts
Philippine
The video is part of a barrage of bogus and
harmful medical posts on social media platforms
where Filipinos rank among the world's heaviest
users.
Even before Covid-19 confined people to their
homes and left them fearful of seeing a doctor,
many in the Philippines sought remedies online
because they were cheaper and easier to access.
During the pandemic, AFP's Fact Check team saw
an explosion of misinformation about untested
cosmetic products and quick-fix treatments for
chronic illnesses.
The majority appear as free posts or paid
advertisements on Facebook, the most popular
social media site among the 76 million internet
users in the Philippines.
They can circulate for weeks or even months
without detection as Facebook struggles to keep
up with the torrent of misinformation flooding its
platform.
While there is no vetting of posts before they go
live, Facebook has a multi-stage, largely
automated, review system to check ads before
they are published.
Many of the products are promoted in videos that
have been doctored to make it look like real
medical professionals are endorsing them.
Others appear in falsified news reports, while
some are touted by vloggers such as Demasudlay.
AFP fact checkers have debunked dozens of
claims, including a manipulated Philippine news
report that appeared to promote a herbal
supplement for diabetics as an alternative to
insulin.
A single post of the false video was viewed more
than three million times, shared more than seven
thousand times and attracted almost ten thousand
comments from people, many wanting to buy it.
Demasudlay's 15-minute video was posted in
August 2022 and viewed more than ten thousand
times.
She falsely claimed the "Bar Bilat Virginity Soap"
had been approved by the Philippine Food and
Drug Administration as a treatment for skin
conditions and a way to tighten the vagina.
"Bilat" means "vagina" in a local Philippine
language.
In fact, the FDA has warned consumers against
using the "unauthorised" soap due to possible
health risks that range from skin irritation to organ
failure.
A few months later, Demasudlay admitted in
another video that the soap had left her "itchy to
the point of bleeding" -- but she kept promoting it.
Demasudlay declined to be interviewed by AFP.
- Global problem -
Philippine doctors worried about the explosion of
medical misinformation during the pandemic
began posting videos providing free information
about common health conditions.
But the move backfired as promoters of spurious
treatments used clips from those videos
[?WHO/Demasudlay]and inserted them into their
own posts for credibility.
Geraldine Zamora, a rheumatologist in the capital
Manila, was among those targeted.
In 2020, she began recording videos and posting
them on TikTok, where she has more than 60,000
followers.
"It was a good thing for us because we were able
to extend our medical knowledge to people who
otherwise wouldn't be able to consult with
doctors," Zamora said.
A single post of the false video was viewed more
than three million times, shared more than seven
thousand times and attracted almost ten thousand
comments from people, many wanting to buy it.
She falsely claimed the "Bar Bilat Virginity Soap"
had been approved by the Philippine Food and
Drug Administration as a treatment for skin
conditions and a way to tighten the vagina.
In fact, the FDA has warned consumers against
using the "unauthorised" soap due to possible
health risks that range from skin irritation to organ
failure.
A few months later, Demasudlay admitted in
another video that the soap had left her "itchy to
the point of bleeding" -- but she kept promoting it.
Global problem -
Philippine doctors worried about the explosion of
medical misinformation during the pandemic
began posting videos providing free information
about common health conditions
But the move backfired as promoters of spurious
treatments used clips from those videos
[?WHO/Demasudlay]and inserted them into their
own posts for credibility.
Geraldine Zamora, a rheumatologist in the capital
Manila, was among those targeted.
In 2020, she began recording videos and posting
them on TikTok, where she has more than 60,000
followers.
"It was a good thing for us because we were able
to extend our medical knowledge to people who
otherwise wouldn't be able to consult with
doctors," Zamora said.
Her videos were watched hundreds of thousands
of times.
But then the footage was used to promote an
unregistered brand of supplement for arthritis,
which the FDA had warned consumers about.
The manipulated posts were viewed tens of
thousands of times before being taken down by
Facebook.
Zamora said some of her patients considered
purchasing the product in the belief she was
endorsing it.
The World Health Organization told AFP that
"inappropriate promotion and advertisements" for
unregistered medical products had long been a
global problem and the pandemic may have made
it worse.
Filipinos were particularly vulnerable to false or
misleading health claims due to a shortage of
doctors in the country and their heavy internet
usage, said Eleanor Castillo, a public health expert
at the University of the Philippines.
"Even if we have our rural health units, or village
health centres, many of them don't have doctors or
they would visit once a week or twice a month,
especially in far-flung areas," Castillo said.
The consequences of using unapproved treatments
can be dire.
Vicente Ocampo, president of the Philippine
Academy of Ophthalmology, said patients as
young as 12 had become blind after using eye
drops bought online instead of consulting a
doctor.
"It saddens us that people will readily believe
advertisements that claim to heal all eye problems
as speedily as possible and pay exorbitant prices
for these eye drops," Ocampo said.
Ocampo said Facebook posts selling an
unregistered eye drop brand that had used images
of real doctors and the academy's name.
But the academy struggled to get traction with its
warnings about the misinformation.
But then the footage was used to promote an
unregistered brand of supplement for arthritis,
which the FDA had warned consumers about.
Zamora said some of her patients considered
purchasing the product in the belief she was
endorsing it.
The World Health Organization told AFP that
"inappropriate promotion and advertisements" for
unregistered medical products had long been a
global problem and the pandemic may have made
it worse.
Filipinos were particularly vulnerable to false or
misleading health claims due to a shortage of
doctors in the country and their heavy internet
usage, said Eleanor Castillo, a public health expert
at the University of the Philippines.
The consequences of using unapproved treatments
can be dire.
Vicente Ocampo, president of the Philippine
Academy of Ophthalmology, said patients as
young as 12 had become blind after using eye
drops bought online instead of consulting a
doctor.
Ocampo said Facebook posts selling an
unregistered eye drop brand that had used images
of real doctors and the academy's name.
But the academy struggled to get traction with its
warnings about the misinformation.
Its statement issued in September 2022 notifying Its statement issued in September 2022 notifying
consumers about the false posts received 57 consumers about the false posts received 57
interactions -- likes, shares and comments. interactions -- likes, shares and comments.

In the same month, four ads for the product In the same month, four ads for the product
reviewed by AFP fact checkers received almost reviewed by AFP fact checkers received almost
34,000 interactions. 34,000 interactions.

AFP has a global team of journalists who debunk

misinformation as part of the third-party fact-
checking programme of Meta, the parent company
of Facebook. Researchers from around 80
organisations, including media outlets, check
posts on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

Some of the viral medical posts AFP has

debunked on Facebook were paid advertisements.

Meta's ad policy prohibits any "promises or Meta's ad policy prohibits any "promises or
suggestions of unrealistic outcomes" for "health, suggestions of unrealistic outcomes" for "health,
weight loss or economic opportunity". weight loss or economic opportunity".

It says ads for over-the-counter medicines should It says ads for over-the-counter medicines should
comply with licences and approvals required by comply with licences and approvals required by
local laws. local laws.

However, keyword searches on Meta's ad library However, keyword searches on Meta's ad library
found hundreds of advertisements for products found hundreds of advertisements for products
debunked by AFP still on the site. debunked by AFP still on the site.

Meta told AFP it was working with Philippine law Meta told AFP it was working with Philippine law
enforcement "to address" illegal commercial enforcement "to address" illegal commercial
listings. listings.