Fact-Check: Hoax! Viral Post Circulates On Switching Off Mobile Devices Due to Cosmic Rays 

BY: Quadri Yahya

Claim:

People should turn off mobile phones due to harmful cosmic rays passing through the earth.

Verdict:

Against the viral message, FactCheckAfrica’s findings show that the caution is an old hoax being shared repeatedly again.

Full Text:

On 7th April 2024, a plethora of netizens shared a message on different WhatsApp platforms with a caution that people should turn off their phones and other household gadgets because “harmful cosmic rays will pass through the earth.”

The message reads: “Tonight between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., make sure to turn off your cell phone, laptop, etc. and keep it away from your body. TV Singapore broke the news. Please inform your family and friends. Tonight, between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., our earth will face the highest radiation. Cosmic light rays will pass near the earth. 

“So turn off your phone etc. and keep it away from your body, because it will cause us harmful effects of radiation. You can see it on Google and NASA and BBC news. Share this message with others who are important to your family, friends, friends and even your wife. You can save many lives by doing this. Hope useful.” 

According to the Institute of Physics, cosmic rays are defined as the high-energy particles that move through space to the outer layer of Earth’s atmosphere. The body noted that they are invisible to the naked eye. 

FactCheckAfrica investigated this claim because it could stroke tension among unsuspecting individuals. 

Verification: 

To verify its authenticity, we checked the websites and social media pages of the two international organisations – British Broadcasting Corporation and NASA –  mentioned in the message. There is no recent post on the claim on their websites, FactCheckAfrica can confirm.

Further research revealed that the message has been circulated widely in different countries and it has also been debunked many times.

Meanwhile, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) clarified that cosmic rays pose ‘little threat to humans and systems’ because a shield protects the planet’s atmosphere and magnetic field.

Conclusion: 

The message on WhatsApp warning people to turn off mobile phones due to harmful cosmic rays passing the earth is an old hoax, disregard it.