Tech Disinformation: 16 Myths Debunked

Fact and fiction frequently collide in the tech world, but we’re here to set the record straight.

- ERIC GRIFFITH

Heard the one about how charging your phone overnight destroys its battery? How about this whopper: Macs can’t get viruses? There’s plenty of fake tech news floating around; each new generation of technology products and services begets even more false beliefs. A lot of those are pretty easy to discredit, but we found a few for this story that might make even our readers do a double-take!

It’s possible you’re worried about something that isn’t true—or maybe something that used to be true but isn’t now, as new discoveries and updates cleared up the problem.

Go through our list below and see if there’s something you thought was true but, well, isn’t. Then pass on the real deal to your friends, family, and social following, so they won’t fall prey to tech disinformation.

5G TOWERS CAN MAKE YOU SICK

Certain people have long been worried that cellular signals, and Wi-Fi, and probably even radio back in the 1930s, are making them sick. 5G is simply the newest over-the-air “villain.” In our conspiracy-laden times, where outright lies can masquerade as the truth even when facts smack them in the face, 5G gets a lot of attention.

Our colleagues at Mashable have covered some of the conspiracy theories: for example, 5G being “turned up” will cause people who are vaccinated for COVID-19 to spontaneously combust. (This was supposed to happen on January 5, 2022. It did not.)

Furthermore, there’s no scientifically validated connection between 5G and COVID-19. None.