Fact vs Fiction

Fact vs Fiction is a series by BOOM, one of India’s leading fact-checking organizations, aimed at debunking misinformation and distinguishing between verified facts and false claims. The series often addresses a wide range of issues, from political statements and social narratives to viral videos, fake news, and misleading images circulating on social media and messaging platforms. Through this series, BOOM aims to create awareness about misinformation, encourage critical thinking, and promote media literacy among the public.

The Fact vs Fiction episodes focus on various themes, such as communal narratives, election fraud claims, health misinformation, and conspiracy theories. Each episode provides a detailed investigation of viral claims, using evidence-based analysis to either verify or debunk the circulating content. This series plays a crucial role in countering the spread of fake news and building trust in fact-checking efforts in India.

In April 2020, BOOM's Fact vs Fiction addressed a video falsely claiming that a group of Muslims was licking utensils to deliberately spread coronavirus. The video went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to communal tensions and fear.

BOOM's investigation found that the video was old and unrelated to the pandemic, debunking the misinformation that claimed Muslims were using mosques to spread the virus.