In June 2019, a Facebook user shared the following image (archived here), purportedly illustrating the poor state of affairs in Los Angeles in particular and California overall: Third world country? Nah, LA California. This is exactly what socialism i
Publication: disinformation
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Lil Nas X Dropped by Wrangler After He Came Out as Gay?
On July 1 2019, country hip-hop musician Montero Lamar Hill — better known as Lil Nas X — published tweets subtly alluding to his sexual orientation: Two hours [after tweeting about a UK appearance], the Atlanta-born [Lil Nas X] and arguably the n
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Fans Contract Herpes from Belle Delphine’s Bathwater?
In July 2019 Instagram cosplayer Belle Delphine offered her bathwater for sale, news of which was quickly followed by a rumor that purchasers were afflicted with herpes after drinking it. Prior to that story appearing, Insider reported: Belle Delphin
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Say If ‘Owning Guns Was a Right It Would Be in the Constitution’?
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has captured the attention of the internet and its trolls, which means that memes and rumors about her are quite common — most of which seem to attribute either motives or quotes to her with no cit
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Colin Kaepernick Force Nike to Cancel ‘Offensive’ Betsy Ross American Flag Sneakers?
On July 1 2019, the Wall Street Journal published an article reporting that Nike had canceled shipment of a planned Betsy Ross flag-themed sneaker, adding that former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick had forced the athletic wear company to do so as
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Protesters Throw ‘Concrete Milkshakes’?
Dueling protests became dueling narratives in Portland, Oregon on June 29 2019 when clashes erupted between Proud Boys attendees and anti-fascist demonstrators, quickly devolving into rumors that milkshakes thrown at one person contained one or mor
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Woman on Facebook Mistake Drill Bits Discarded at a Gas Station for Bullets?
In March 2018, the Facebook page “Historical Pictures” shared the following meme (archived here), purportedly a screenshot of a Facebook post in which a woman named Emily Noel mistakes discarded drill bits for bullets: Underneath a phot
Truth or Fiction?→ There Is No Credible Evidence Rep. Ilhan Omar Married Her Brother
On June 23 2019 pundit Dinesh D’Souza tweeted a very old claim: That Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) once married her own brother: I’m trying to keep the @IlhanMN story straight. She marrried her brother to evade immigration laws? Then she div
Truth or Fiction?→ Did U.S. President Barack Obama Have a Separation Policy at the Border?
In late June 2019, United States President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that his administration did not have a family separation policy at the border — going further to attribute the controversial actions to his predecessor, Barack Obama. Trump
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Malia Obama Cash a $1.2 Million Check?
A headline about former First Daughter Malia Obama (archived here) depositing a suspiciously large check got a lot of traction on social media in June 2019: However, this story is suspect for two reasons. First, it contains little beyond a provocati
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump in 2020’ Twitter Meme
On June 18 2019, Twitter user @johncatsjr shared the following tweet (“why I’m voting for Donald Trump in 2020”), a missive picked up by innumerable other users — along with an original misspelling: Why I’m voting for Donald Tru
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a New ‘Gay Street’ Sign Near Stonewall Include ‘Pedosexual’ in Pride?
In June 2019 — Pride Month in the United States — the following image circulated on social media, suggesting that one of the sexual orientations added to New York City’s “Gay Street” sign was “pedosexual”: The image
Truth or Fiction?→ Scams and Hoax Accounts Proliferate on Instagram
April 2019 saw the culmination of a months-long popular uprising in the country of Sudan, when its former president Omar al-Bashir stepped down from his post. The Sudanese military quickly took control of the country in what it called a transitional p
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Supreme Court Rule 5-4 Against Swearing in on the Qur’an?
On June 11 2019, a Facebook user shared the following text-based status update (archived here), claiming the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against the use of the Qur’an for swearing oaths: Right off the bat, the format of the post was a scourge to fa
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Dutch Teenager Euthanized Because of Rape Trauma?
In early June 2019, a number of English-speaking news organizations reported that a 17-year-old Dutch girl named Noa Pothove had been “euthanized” at her request, following years of unsuccessful treatment due to the trauma of rape and sexu
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Media Refuse to Cover Massive Crowds in England Chanting ‘We Love Trump’?
On June 4 2019, Facebook user James Johnson shared a video (archived here) purportedly showing large crowds of supporters shouting “we love Trump.” He then claimed that news outlets in the United Kingdom and United States deliberately refu
Truth or Fiction?→ Donald Trump’s British Fans?
In June 2019, as United States President Donald Trump visited Britain to meet with the royal family and elected officials, a photograph purportedly of his English fans appeared on social media and made the usual rounds. One popular variation (archived
Truth or Fiction?→ Are the Streets of Los Angeles Littered with Syringes?
On June 1 2019, the Facebook page “All Eyes On Me: Los Angeles” shared the following image (archived here) of seemingly discarded hypodermic needles in the city: A very brief description did not provide much context for the image, simpl
Truth or Fiction?→ Does an Image Show Dogs Euthanized in a Single Day in an Average American Shelter?
On June 2 2019, the Facebook page “Pawz” shared the following post (archived here), tugging on readers’ heartstrings by claiming that the photograph represented routine daily euthanizations in an average shelter: A caption implied
Truth or Fiction?→ Trump Rally vs. Live Aid
In May 2019, a suspicious looking meme began to make the usual rounds on social media. It shows a huge crowd of people packing a venue raptly gazing at a stage bearing “Trump 2020” signs on either side, with a third Trump banner over the a
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Eradicated Diseases Making a Comeback Because of Immigrants and Refugees?
In April 2019, the Facebook page “Donald Plants” shared the following meme (archived here), which claimed that six “eradicated diseases” are in the process of “making a comeback” thanks to the presence of refugees
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the ‘New Congresswoman from Michigan’ Describing ‘What the Enemies of America’ Plan to Do?
On May 26 2019, rock musician turned conservative commentator Ted Nugent shared the following video and caption to his Facebook page: Listen very closely to the new congresswoman from Michigan what the enemies of America believe especially on Memorial
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Say ‘We Can Land on the Sun, We Just Have to Go at Night?’
On January 31 2019, a Facebook user shared the following meme (archived here), claiming that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had once said that it was possible to “land on the sun” and “we just have to go at night”: Not only d
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Milkshake Thrown at an Elderly Brexit Party Volunteer?
During a May 23 2019 vote in the UK, early-morning rumors circulated that the latest in a line of milkshake-throwing incidents involved elderly British Army veteran Don McNaughton in the south England town of Aldershot: Yet more disgusting behavio
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Picture Show the ‘Youngest Parents in the World’?
On February 26 2019, a Facebook user shared the following post (archived here), purportedly showing the world’s youngest parents: Aside from a caption (“Man Wtf”), no included information explained how the original poster had divine
Truth or Fiction?→ Nancy Pelosi and the ‘Wrap-Up Smear’
An October 2018 Turning Point USA Facebook video featured a brief clip of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking, purportedly explaining the manner in which Democrats use a “wrap up smear” tactic against Republicans. At the time the clip appe
Truth or Fiction?→ Are ‘Cow Fart Bags’ Being Used to Fight Climate Change?
On May 14 2019, a Facebook user shared the following post (archived here), purporting to show “cow fart bags” advocated as a climate change solution by “fringe leftists”: It was almost as if a post lamenting that “you
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Facebook Donating $1 for Every Share Towards a Puppy’s Tumor?
On May 10 2019, the Facebook page “Therapy Dogs Give Love” shared the following image and plea (archived here), claiming Facebook was donating $1 for every share of an image of a puppy with a “tumor”: Alongside an image of a
Truth or Fiction?→ Mass Shooter Media Myth
On February 2019, television personality John Stossel released a video to Facebook watch, entitled “Media Hype Questionable Gun Control Study/MASS SHOOTER MEDIA MYTH.” That video was first shared to YouTube on December 18 2018. The clip wa
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Nancy Pelosi Call ‘Late-Term Abortion’ Bans ‘Really Quite a Sad Thing?’
On April 14 2019, a Facebook user shared a text-based status update (archived here), claiming that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had described “late-term abortion” bans as “really quite a sad thing”: Against a purple gradient back
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Joe Biden Disclose the Names of the Soldiers Involved in the Bin Laden Raid in 2011?
On April 30 2019, the following post was shared to the Facebook group “Sussex County Voice” (archived here), alleging that when he was vice president of the United States, Joe Biden revealed the names and unit responsible for killing Osam
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Bernie Sanders Say ‘Christianity is an Insult to Muslims’?
On April 20 2019, a Facebook user shared a text-based status update to their personal timeline, claiming Bernie Sanders said that “Christianity is an insult to Muslims.” The text on the post read: Bernie Sanders Says Christianity Is An Ins
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Venezuelans Being ‘Shot in the Streets’ After a 2012 Gun Ban?
An April 30 2019 text-based Facebook post (archived here) claiming that 2012 gun control legislation in Venezuela prompted political unrest was shared over 100,000 times in a few days: The status update, which came in text form without news links o
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Venezuelans Being ‘Shot in the Streets’ After a 2012 Gun Ban?
An April 30 2019 text-based Facebook post (archived here) claiming that 2012 gun control legislation in Venezuela prompted political unrest was shared over 100,000 times in a few days: The status update, which came in text form without news links o
Truth or Fiction?→ Turning Point USA’s ‘Truth About Social Security’ Meme
On May 1 2019, the Facebook page for youth conservative outreach organization Turning Point USA shared a meme (archived here) purporting to detail “the truth” about several changes made to Social Security over the years: An appended sta
Truth or Fiction?→ Turning Point USA’s ‘Truth About Social Security’ Meme
On May 1 2019, the Facebook page for youth conservative outreach organization Turning Point USA shared a meme (archived here) purporting to detail “the truth” about several changes made to Social Security over the years: An appended sta
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Four Photographs Show the ‘Sunny Sanctuary State’ of ‘Once Beautiful California’?
On April 24 2019, a Facebook user shared the following images and status update (archived here), purportedly showing images from California that included piles of trash on a beach and by roads and trails: In the status update (“Welcome to the S
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Ontario, California Confirm Kidnappers are Drugging and Abducting Children?
On April 26 2019, a Facebook user shared a screenshot (archived here) of another post, which provided an alarming account of complex abduction attempts purportedly occurring in Ontario, California. The original post was shared by an account with the n
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Twitter Withholding a ‘Nazi-Hunting’ Algorithm for Fear of Inadvertently Banning Republican Lawmakers?
On April 25 2019, a Twitter user posted a claim that the social media platform possessed a “Nazi-hunting” algorithm, but opted not to employ it specifically because it would also filter the tweets or accounts of some Republican lawmakers:
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Picture Show a Tiny Crowd Ten Minutes Before Sen. Bernie Sanders’ April 2019 Houston Rally?
On April 26 2019, Facebook page “The Trump Train” shared the following post (archived here), claiming that it showed a crowd of a few dozen people in Houston ten minutes before Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) was scheduled to speak: Ac