Name: Ridiculous Tech Myths That Just Won't Die
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Ridiculous Tech Myths That Just Won't Die

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PCMag editors select and review products . If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.Is what you believe about technology rooted in fact or fiction?Last year, tech myths people still believe: that more megapixels in a digital camera make for a better picture (they don’t), and that charging a phone overnight somehow harms the battery (it doesn’t). Tech myths haven’t gone away since then, so HighSpeedInternet.com researchers renewed the report for 2020.They anonymously surveyed 1,000 Americans to uncover what the public believes about emerging technology. is teeming with new myths, some that even you might think are true.For one, 5G cellular networks don’t make you sick, although 25 percent of Americans believe otherwise. 5G is a non-ionizing radiation, which isn’t strong enough to harm people, and it’s similar to other familiar cellular tech.&nbsp;If you think 5G will replace 4G, think again (86 percent of survey respondents will have to). 5G is actually built on top of the 4G network, and so if your phone is operational on 4G, it’ll still work after a 5G upgrade. , by the way; it’s the precursor to 5G. AT&amp;T has actually faced a lawsuit over branding its 5GE services misleadingly.&nbsp;Now onto satellites. Have you ever thought that low-Earth orbit satellites will obscure a great starry-night view? Over a third of respondents (36 percent) thought so. The launch of hundreds of satellites in recent years might have brought about this concern, but satellites such as SpaceX’s Starlink are shielded with a non-reflective substance and sunshades. What really interferes with astronomers’ views of planets and stars is the light of cities reflecting from clouds.&nbsp;“The main reason people believe tech myths is simple—it is because these myths are circulating like viruses on the internet,” said Joe Flanagan, lead app developer at . “Advertisements often pop up with data that is unreal, yet people fall for the clickbait—and ultimately end up believing the myths that they are told.”Editors' note: After publishing this story, we received emails clarifying that satellites create more of a problem for astronomers than our story stated, including Michael F. Lembeck, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Dept of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: "While your '5G' points may be true, you sure missed on the Starlink satellite trains. It's no myth. The satellites are creating havoc for astronomers and the non-reflective coatings SpaceX put on their newest satellites is&nbsp;. Currently there on only 775 Starlink satellites in orbit and 12,000(!) are planned for deployment. Light pollution from the ground will be no match for the disruptions caused by Starlink and several more planned constellations of several thousand satellites (OneWeb, 650; Kuiper, 3,236)."Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our and . You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!AdvertisementEditors' ChoiceEditors' Choice

PCMag editors select and review products . If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.Is what you believe about technology rooted in fact or fiction?Last year, tech myths people still believe: that more megapixels in a digital camera make for a better picture (they don’t), and that charging a phone overnight somehow harms the battery (it doesn’t). Tech myths haven’t gone away since then, so HighSpeedInternet.com researchers renewed the report for 2020.They anonymously surveyed 1,000 Americans to uncover what the public believes about emerging...

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Ridiculous Tech Myths That Just Won't Die

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