“Apple Cider Vinegar”, a recent Netflix dramatization about “wellness expert” Belle Gibson, has resulted in a discussion about a concerning trend: Munchausen by Internet. This term is used to describe when a person fakes having a serious medical condition for internet fame. Gibson claimed to cure brain cancer with a clean living lifestyle, and managed to secure a book deal and a large following before being exposed in 2014. Unfortunately, she’s not alone: former Grey’s Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch also pretended to have cancer for a decade. Amanda Riley also blogged about having Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for seven years. Cancer fakers may be looking to receive money from sympathetic followers, and may also seek attention and affection from the web. (dailymail.co.uk)
What Is The “Munchausen By Internet” Trend?
Mar 12, 2025 | 8:00 PM