How a Diwali cracker gun in India went from social media craze to blinding children
How a Diwali cracker gun in India went from social media craze to blinding children
Social media videos showing how to use ‘carbide guns’ began going viral in the weeks before the Diwali festival.
Read the full article on BBC World
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article's core claim about carbide guns causing eye injuries is supported, but the extent of the problem and specific numbers vary across sources. There's a moderate bias towards highlighting the negative consequences and potential dangers of social media trends without presenting alternative perspectives.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: Carbide guns are a social media craze in India before Diwali.
- Verification Source #1: Confirms the social media aspect and timing before Diwali.
- Verification Source #2: Confirms the social media aspect and timing before Diwali.
- Verification Source #5: Confirms the social media craze over carbide guns.
- Assessment: Supported
- Claim: Carbide guns are blinding children.
- Verification Source #1: Confirms serious eye injuries to children and young adults.
- Verification Source #2: Confirms the blinding of children.
- Verification Source #3: States over a dozen children go blind.
- Verification Source #5: States at least 14 children have gone blind.
- Assessment: Supported, although the exact number of children blinded varies.
- Claim: Hundreds of children and young adults from at least five states across northern India have suffered serious eye injuries.
- Verification Source #1: Confirms hundreds of children and young adults from at least five states across northern India have suffered serious eye injuries.
- Assessment: Supported
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Source 1: "Aarish is among hundreds of children and young adults from at least five states across northern India who have suffered serious eye injuries…"
- Source 3: "Over a dozen children go blind playing with new 'must-have'."
- Source 5: "At least 14 children have gone blind, and more than 120 others were hospitalised in different districts of Madhya Pradesh after playing with…"