On October 11 2021, screenshots of a Twitter thread about the classic video puzzle game Tetris purportedly reducing trauma after distressing events spread all over platforms like Facebook and Imgur: Tetris may help with trauma Originally, Twitter ac
Publication: Fact Checks
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Robin Test Footage’
On October 12 and 13 2021, a video titled “Robin Test Footage” spread across social media, often described as a scene from an in-the-works biopic: ROBIN Test Footage Scene from videos A top comment thread on the pos
Truth or Fiction?→ Ben Shapiro ‘Wife’s Bedroom’ Columbus Day Tweet
An October 11 2021 tweet featured a purported Twitter screenshot, which was attributed to Ben Shapiro and mentioned his “wife’s bedroom” and “Columbus Day”: pic.twitter.com/YUqBJgI3NB — Michael Kofi A.||♤ (@MikeK
Truth or Fiction?→ Email to Cancel a Wedding Contract
An October 11 2021 Facebook screenshot from a photographer named Tony Bendele — purportedly showing an email from a disgruntled bride and groom — spread virally when it was shared a day later to r/insanepeoplefacebook: Photograph
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Are You Concerned Someone You Know is Becoming Too Prepared?’ Facebook
On October 10 2021, a screenshot of a purported Facebook warning asking members of canning and prepper groups if they knew someone who was “becoming too prepared” was shared to Reddit’s r/comedyheaven: becoming too prepared
Truth or Fiction?→ New Astrological Dates 2021 (and Ophiuchus)
A September 30 2021 image (“New Astrological Dates”) and accompanying rumor of a thirteenth zodiac sign — Ophiuchus — began its most recent voyage around social media with the following commentary: Your thoughts america. I̵
Truth or Fiction?→ Leo Varadkar ‘Rent Freeze’ Quote
On October 7 2020, Imgur u/smobey shared a screenshot of the following circulating tweet: The text said: Leo Varadkar warns introducing a rent freeze could create a ‘nightmare scenario’, where landlords would be forced to sell their extra
Truth or Fiction?→ Stand Up for What You Believe In, Even If Facebook Marks it ‘Sensitive Content’
On October 6 2021, the Facebook page “Blessed Little Homestead” shared a circulating meme which read, “stand up for what you believe in, even if you stand alone”; Facebook appeared to be automatically marking that specific image
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Swedish TV Accidentally Puts Subtitles from a Kids’ Show over a Political Debate’
An October 2 2021 Facebook post (screengrab included) contained a claim that a Swedish TV station accidentally put subtitles from children’s’ programming over a political debate: Beneath an apparent username from an unspecified platform
Truth or Fiction?→ Project Veritas and ‘Nick Karl From Pfizer’
On October 4 2021, Project Veritas — an organization that releases heavily misleadingly edited far-right propaganda videos and pretends they are journalistic “stings” — claimed to “expose Pfizer” through secret vi
Truth or Fiction?→ Charlie Kirk ‘Cure’ Tweet
On October 3 2021, a tweet attributed to Charlie Kirk appeared on the subreddit r/HermanCainAward — purportedly proposing an alternative cure for COVID-19: Charlie Kirk discovers a cure for Covid that the mainstream medical establishme
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Humans Have Stripes’
On September 28 2021, the following post made a series of claims about humans having “stripes” that are visible but aren’t actually stripes, and that they also have stripes that do exist but which are not visible. The post’s c
Truth or Fiction?→ Carl Sagan: ‘Once You Give a Charlatan Power Over You, You Almost Never Get It Back’
On October 1 2021, an Imgur account shared a quote about bamboozlers and charlatans attributed to astrophyicist and science advocate Carl Sagan: At the bottom an “Occupy Democrats” watermark appeared; the page shared the meme on Facebook
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘I Did My Own Research’ Gravestone Meme
On September 30 2021, an Imgur user shared an image of an “I did my own research” gravestone, arranged in the manner of fairly common Halloween decor: Imgur u/blank666man titled the post “Thinking about Halloween??”; no additio
Truth or Fiction?→ Ireland vs. Alabama COVID-19 Stats
A September 28 2021 Imgur post (below) purportedly contrasted the state of Alabama with the Republic of Ireland in “Covid stats”; it appeared to be a screenshot of a post to r/Ireland from the same day: Ireland Covid stats versus
Truth or Fiction?→ Do National Son’s Day and National Daughter’s Day Even Exist?
On September 27 2021, Facebook user Owen Youngman posted about “National Son’s Day” and “National Daughter’s Day,” two purported “National Days” prompting significant social media engagement. YoungmanR
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dozens of Massachusetts State Police Resign over Vaccine Mandate?
A September 27 2021 claim that “dozens” of members of Massachusetts law enforcement resigned over a vaccine mandate was reported broadly across networks, with articles by The Hill and Breitbart registering as virally popular on Trendolizer.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Covid Killed 47 Out Of Every 100,000 People’ in ‘Counties Where Trump Got over 70 Percent of the Vote’
As COVID-19 continued to rage through the United States in late September 2021, a tweet (later shared to Imgur) claimed that the virus killed 47 out of 100,000 people in counties where former U.S. President Donald Trump received 70 percent or more of
Truth or Fiction?→ Rasmussen: ‘Trump 2024 Would Beat Either Biden or Harris’
On September 24 2021, AmericanMilitaryNews.com published a story headlined, “Rasmussen poll: Trump beating Biden 51%-41% in 2024 presidential poll,” which claimed: Donald Trump would defeat both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamal
Truth or Fiction?→ Most Hospitals ‘Legally Have to Forgive Your Medical Bills’ if You Make Under 300 Percent of the Federal Poverty Line
On September 23 2021, an Imgur user shared a TikTok video in which a user claims that most hospitals have to “legally forgive your medical bills” if you earn less than 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines”: Reposting for the
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Data Mining Posts
On September 22 2021, actor Wil Wheaton shared a warning about data mining on Facebook (one of many circulating at the time), advising followers to educate themselves about data mining. Facebook Warnings About Data Mining in September 2021 Wheaton̵
Truth or Fiction?→ New Footage of Capitol Riots Released in September 2021
“New footage” of the events of January 6 2021 began circulating on September 22 2021, appearing alongside a predictable set of claims about the “meaning” of the video: Whatever this is, it is not anything close to a coup or in
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Don’t Get Vaccinated’ Funeral Home Truck
On September 19 2021, images of a truck appeared on social media, appearing to show a purported funeral home’s box truck advertisement reading, “don’t get vaccinated”: @RexChapman @davenewworld_2 This truck is making laps a
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Almost Half of America Thinks Biden is Mentally Unstable According to New Poll’
On September 20 2021, a TrendingPolitics.com post headlined, “Almost Half of America Thinks Biden is Mentally Unstable According to New Poll” appeared on Trendolizer as extremely popular, claiming: According to a new poll conducted by Fox
Truth or Fiction?→ Eric Cantona ‘Kicking a Nazi’ Facebook Post
On September 17 2021, the Facebook page “These memes kill fascists” shared a post about Manchester United striker Eric Cantona kicking a Nazi: Kicking a Nazi cost Manchester United striker Eric Cantona a 9 month penalty, an €18000 fine, a
Truth or Fiction?→ Gabby Petito Lodi Truck Stop Sighting Rumor
Late on September 16 2021, a Facebook user shared a screenshot which referenced missing woman Gabby Petito at a truck stop in Lodi, California: As of midday on September 17 2021, the post was rapidly spreading and circulating on Facebook. It appeared
Truth or Fiction?→ Biden ‘Fellow Down Under’ Controversy
On September 16 2021, Trendolizer identified a Hannity.com post (“???????: Biden Seemingly Forgets Australian Prime Minister’s Name, Calls Him ‘That Fella Down Under’”) as showing signs of viral popularity. It began: President Biden s
Truth or Fiction?→ Stillbirths in Mississippi Doubled During Pandemic
On September 16 2021, an Imgur user shared the following screenshot, showing a headline’s claim that stillbirths had doubled in Mississippi since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: A source for the headline was not visible in the screenshot, wh
Truth or Fiction?→ CNN Missing 351K (or 400K) Votes in CA Recall Segment, Explained
On September 15 2021, rumors that “351K” or “400K” votes had “disappeared” from California gubernatorial recall totals during a CNN segment were popular on social media: Someone explain to me why the Gavin Newsom r
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘George Washington Mandated Inoculation’
On September 13 2021, a Facebook account shared a screenshot of the following tweet, which claimed that George Washington mandated inoculation: George Washington mandated inoculation against small pox. The Supreme Court has ruled state vaccine manda
Truth or Fiction?→ Norm Macdonald ‘When I Hear a Guy Lost a Battle to Cancer’ Quote
On September 14 2021, the death of comedian Norm Macdonald was widely reported; soon after the news broke, a purported quote of Macdonald’s about “cancer” and “battles” began circulating on Imgur: Across news outlets, Mac
Truth or Fiction?→ Todd Starnes: ‘Biden Says Even Fox News Has A Mandatory Vaccine Policy’
On September 14 2021, a popular Imgur post showed a screenshot of a Todd Starnes tweet, in which Starnes questioned whether Fox News had a “mandatory vaccine policy”: Biden says even @FoxNews has a mandatory vaccine policy. Is that tru
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘I Know More Than the Scietists’ Protester
On September 13 2021, a photograph of a man with a poorly spelled sign (“I know more than the scietists”) went viral on Twitter: this is where we’re at and it hurts. pic.twitter.com/GwM28DIBG2 — Andrew Baback Boozary MD (@drandrew
Truth or Fiction?→ The Oklahoma Ivermectin Overdose Controversy
A viral September 5 2021 tweet thread “debunking” a series of stories about ivermectin use and hospitals shows that disinformation and the way it is delivered is mutating. Republican public relations strategist and freelance writer Drew Ho
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Elvis Presley’s Manager Sell ‘I Hate Elvis’ Buttons to Profit From ‘Haters’?
On August 23 2021, the Facebook page “Weird Facts” shared the following meme, which asserted that Elvis Presley’s manager did pro-Elvis and anti-Elvis marketing, selling “I Hate Elvis” buttons to individuals who were not
Truth or Fiction?→ Is San Francisco Paying Criminals $300 a Month Not to Shoot People?
On September 8 2021, the unreliable Daily Wire published an item headlined, “San Francisco Is Going To Pay People $300 A Month Not To Shoot Others.” The outrage-baiting headline worked; soon it appeared atop Trendolizer.com’s “
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Ivermectin Causes Infertility’ Meme
On September 7 2021, a meme claiming “ivermectin causes male infertility” was shared to Imgur, quickly going viral on other platforms as well: Under the top text (“ivermectin causes male infertility,”) additional bottom text re
Truth or Fiction?→ Kayleigh McEnany: ‘I Can Only Explain it to You. I Can’t Understand It for You.’
On September 7 2021, Trendolizer detected a viral Twitter quote meme; it suggested that former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters, “I can only explain it to you…. I can’t understand it for you”: By the
Truth or Fiction?→ Was George Orwell’s ‘1984’ Banned in the United States and the USSR for Conflicting Reasons?
On September 2 2021, a Facebook post featured an image suggesting that George Orwell’s 1984 was banned in the United States for pro-communist sentiments, but that it was also banned in the USSR for anti-communist sentiments. A screenshot from Tu
Truth or Fiction?→ Candace Owens ‘Cough Into My Fist’ Tweet
On September 3 2021, an Imgur user uploaded a purported tweet by right-wing pundit and frequent disinformation purveyor Candace Owens, quoting her as saying if “a leftist doctor” refused to administer a test, she would cough in her hand a