In the age of rapid technological advancements, the promise of 5G technology has been a hot topic. The technology’s supposed capacity to revolutionize everything from gaming to healthcare has been touted, often with overzealous fervor. One particular example that caught the world’s attention was a video depicting a banana undergoing robotic surgery, purportedly performed remotely over 5G by a surgeon in London while the banana was in California. With captions touting the miraculous capabilities of 5G, the video has been reposted multiple times across various platforms, amassing millions of views and sparking a flurry of debates about the future of medicine.
However, all is not as it seems. None of the reposts or articles discussing the video ever verified the claims it made. There were no attempts to answer fundamental questions such as the identity of the doctor, the type of robotic surgery tool used, or the networks involved. Instead, the video was shared and reshared for the sake of clout, without any critical evaluation of its content. This lack of verification has led to an unfortunate spread of misinformation about 5G technology and its potential applications.
Debunking the 5G Surgery Video: An Unpeeled Truth
The technological world is buzzing with the promise of 5G, and with it comes a tidal wave of misconceptions and hyperbolic claims. One such claim that has taken the internet by storm involves a video of a banana receiving stitches by a robotic surgery device, allegedly conducted remotely over 5G. The video asserts that a London-based surgeon performed the procedure on a banana in California, with 5G as the critical enabler.
The Viral Video: A Closer Look
The video first surfaced on TikTok in 2020 and has since been reposted numerous times across multiple platforms, each time with the same basic claim. It’s a viral sensation, with one post on ‘X’ from ‘TechBurrito Uno’ amassing over 15.1 million views. The video’s popularity has encouraged other accounts to repost it, often accompanied by threads projecting the future of 5G and its potential impact.
Misconceptions and Misinterpretations
However, the truth behind the video is far less groundbreaking. The video does not demonstrate a robotic surgery conducted over 5G. Instead, it shows Dr. Kais Rona, a bariatric and robotic surgeon at Smart Dimensions Weight Loss in Southern California, demonstrating his surgical skills using the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery device on a banana. Dr. Rona has been actively debunking the 5G claim since the video went viral, stating, "I did surgery on this banana, but it wasn’t over 5G."
The Reality Behind the Video
Dr. Rona created the video during the pandemic when his clinic was closed to patients. He wanted to keep his surgical skills honed, so he practiced on bananas and other fruits in the operating room. His video, intended to show this unique form of practice, was then misconstrued and propagated as an example of 5G surgical innovation.
The Consequences of Misinformation
Dr. Rona’s experience highlights the pitfalls of misinformation spreading unchecked on social media. "Misinformation spreads like wildfire on social media," he says. While the exposure can be beneficial, the risk of false information being disseminated, especially in the medical field, can be dangerous.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, while 5G has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, including remote surgery, it’s crucial to separate fact from fiction. The viral video serves as an important reminder to question and verify the information we encounter online. The reality is, surgery has been performed over 5G, but as of yet, no 5G surgery has been conducted on a banana. So, for now, we must peel back the layers of hype and focus on the genuine progress being made in 5G technology.
