A Facebook reel warns against children drinking soda, claiming it can fill their entire abdomen. This video was created using artificial intelligence.
Several reels were uploaded by Filipino FB users on July 14, illustrating a child with internal organs exposed and drinking from a bottle resembling a popular soft drink brand. The following voiceover accompanied the reel:
“Huwag na huwag niyong painumin ng softdrinks ang inyong mga anak dahil ganito ang mangyayari sa loob ng kanyang tiyan, paki-share naman mga idol para makatulong naman sa iba.”
(Never let your children drink soft drinks because this is what will happen inside their stomach, please share to help others.)
Although soda is not advisable for children, the reel is wrong about the process of digestion.
“Soft drinks are digested similar to any other drink or food,” said dietitian Dr. Grace Banal. It follows the typical path of digestion, which is through the mouth, esophagus, stomach, then to the small and large intestines until it is excreted.
The video does not accurately depict this process. It was originally uploaded on Instagram on July 10 by user @aiwonderfel, who exclusively posts AI-generated content. The original video bears the logo of Invideo, an AI video generation tool.
Dr. Ivan Zapanta, a medical nutritionist, described the video as “exaggerated.” It exhibits telltale signs of AI use such as unnatural movements and inaccurate anatomy.
He advised viewers to not immediately believe AI-generated videos on health. The video does not accurately depict this process.
Doctors warn against frequent soda intake, especially for children with sensitive stomachs.
“Cola [is] carbonated and contains sugars [and] phosphoric acid. Once ingested, carbon dioxide will accumulate hence the bloating and frequent belching or burping. The sugar is absorbed in the small intestine and can increase risk of diabetes if chronically taken,” gastroenterologist Dr. Ron Michael Tan explained.
Results from the AI detection tool Hive Moderation showed a 99% likelihood that the video was AI-generated.
Screenshots of the video also circulated among Filipino FB users, carrying identical captions warning against children drinking soda.
The reels were viewed over 7.4 million times. All posts collectively garnered over 35,300 reactions, 2,400 comments and 64,900 shares.
