Fake New iPhone Feature
The Claim Begins
In 2013, a Facebook post began circulating that claimed microwaving a smartphone was not only safe but could fully charge the battery in just one minute. The post also said that Apple discouraged this method because it would decrease charging sales and tried using fake scientific research to make it seem like microwaving an iPhone was safe and better for your iPhone battery. iPhones were still relatively new at the time, and many users could not easily tell if the information was real or fake. In reality, the whole claim was false. A simple search shows that microwaving a phone is extremely dangerous and cannot charge a battery. This media post displayed a good example of how misinformation can spread online when a post claims to be scientific and sounds believable.
How the Story Spread
There was also another source engine other than Facebook that surfaced with similar posts. A Google search about microwaving an iPhone claimed a similar post as the one mentioned. The rumor resurfaced in 2014 with a fake Wave” feature for iPhone, but microwaving a phone will only destroy the device and the microwave, making the claim dangerous information. It claimed that IOS 8 included a new feature that would allow users to charge their phones by placing them in microwaves. Microwaves emit radio waves, not electrical current, so they cannot charge a battery. News reports and websites quickly pushed this issue and named the “Wave” feature as a hoax. The hoax appears realistic because it looks like an actual Apple advertisement, according to CBS News.
Get Vanika C’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
What Science Acutally Says
The claim can easily be refuted by looking at how microwaves work. According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), microwave ovens use electromagnetic radiation to heat food. The microwaves cause water molecules in food to vibrate, which causes heat. This does not mean that a microwave can transfer radiation into electricity for a phone battery and charge it. Instead, placing a phone in a microwave exposes the electrical components and battery to something it was never designed to take. Apple also warns users that an iPhone or its battery can be damaged by being burned or exposed to conditions that can cause overheating or injury.
Making the Claim Sound Beliveable
The post also made a dramatic accusation that Apple launched a “smear campaign” to hide rhetorical methods because the company wanted people to continue buying chargers. This claim has no evidence to support it and relies on conspiracy. Blaming a major company creates conflict, gives the story a clear villain, and encourages readers to interpret warnings as proof or a cover-up. It may be persuasive to viewers who already distrust major corporations because the accusation confirms their existing suspicions while making the false claim seem like hidden information.
What This Teaches Us
Overall, the rumor about microwaving smartphones shows how quickly misinformation proves how misinformation can become persuasive by combining multiple misleading signals. Scientific- sounding information can cause dramatic claims to appear, create accusations and fear surrounding big companies. Simple research proves none of these features had reliable evidence, but together it makes a false claim feel true. Research from news organizations, government agencies, and Apple itself shows that microwaving a phone will not charge it and can seriously damage the device or become a safety hazard. This teaches us not to trust everything we read and see online. The claim should be proven, and viewers should verity sources to ensure they aren’t solely relying on everything that we read.
