Social media posts falsely claiming that sunscreen causes cancer are spreading widely online — at a time when skin cancer rates are rising, and health experts fear such baseless claims could discourage people from protecting themselves against harmful ultraviolet radiation.
BBC Verify's Marco Silva reports on the persistent myth that resurfaces each summer, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The video, produced by Kevin Nguyen and edited by Tom Joyner, highlights how misinformation continues to circulate even as medical professionals warn of the dangers of sun exposure.
“False sunscreen-cancer claims go viral online as skin cancer rates rise, experts warn.”
The concern among experts is that these viral posts may lead people to forgo sunscreen, increasing their risk of skin cancer. The video's graphics, designed by Leo Scutt-Richter, underscore the disconnect between online falsehoods and public health advice.
As the claims spread, the question remains: why do these false narratives persist, and what can be done to counter them before more lives are affected?