On the social network Facebook, on 1 July 2014, the group named Република Македонија – Republic of Macedonia has posted a photo of a small child with visible skin irritation. Here is what they have written as a caption: “This child has skin cancer. With each like the Facebook team donates 30 cents. With each comment the Facebook team donates 30 cents. With each share the Facebook team donates 1 euro. Let’s help him.”

The caption is lie all over. Firstly, the claim that the child has skin cancer is an insensitive fabrication. The evident skin reaction have been caused by too much heat, or heat illness. This can be checked on the following link, published in 2013 in which you can read how the parent explains that pictures of his child have been presented as pictures of measles.

A second lie is the claim that with each like, comment or share Facebook donates funds for treatment.

A totally inhuman and insensitive attempt.

It is true that Facebook donations exist, but not in our country. The countries that do have Facebook donations can be checked here.

Concerning is the fact that the same post from 2014 is commented on and shared even today. Until the time of the publishing of our article the photo has 11,000 emoticons, 4,500 shares and 3,200 comments.

Out of the 3,200 comments, 2,950 are from the last two days, and unquestionably are with a good intention, but this does not change the fact that the users have been manipulated. From the screenshot below it can be seen that there are comments from 4 years ago, then there is a pause of 2 years during which there are only 3 comments, coming to the present when there are new comments posted.

Debunking of fake news

It can be concluded that the aim of the administrator is to collect as many reactions and followers of their FB-page possible. It is obvious that this is a virutal manipulation by which the FB-page gains popularity, and by which its future posts will reach the news feed of the users much easier. On the following link you can see how to make more people follow a certain FB-page.

There is nothing wrong with promoting FB-pages, in fact many people make money in that way, but using pictures of small children and claiming that they have the most serious illness is for utmost condemnation.

This surely is not the last case which we will witness, but we will continue to combat the lies and maniplations on the social media.

In the future, we advise you to not believe everything you see or read in order not to be virtually decieved.

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