On July 23 2019, the Twitter account @ScenarioLENS shared the following image of Ivanka Trump, posing with a law enforcement agent in what looked like a strange, stylized swastika sweater: What the hell is she wearing?! pic.twitter.com/G3IZVFipkn &md
Publication: Fact Checks
Truth or Fiction?→ Is a Once-Segregated Library Now Named After Black Astronaut Ronald McNair?
On July 20 2019, the Facebook page “Being Liberal” shared a screenshot of a tweet published two days earlier by @IFLScience concerning segregation and Challenger astronaut Ronald McNair: In 1959 a librarian called the police on 9-r-old Ro
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the Straw Ban Misguided Because Half the Ocean’s Plastic Is From Fishing?
In July 2019 a Facebook user shared the following comic about plastic nets and ocean pollution: In four panels depicting a person with a plastic straw and a seal trapped in a plastic net, it read: Person: I NEED TO SAVE THE OCEAN FROM ALL THE PLASTIC
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘That’s One Way to Escape the Police’ Ferrari Video
On July 19, the Facebook page “LADbible” shared video of a risky driving maneuver by a Ferrari, displaying the label “That’s one way to escape the police… 😱🚨”: The smooth and highly realistic footage seemed
Truth or Fiction?→ Does ‘a Pair’ of DD Breasts Weigh Between 15 and 23 Pounds?
In June 2019 the Facebook page “Weird Facts“shared the following meme, claiming DD-cup breasts weigh between 15 and 23 pounds (6.8 to 10.4 kilograms): Under a photograph of a woman’s breasts in a bra, text read: A pair of D-cup br
Truth or Fiction?→ Can Grill Brushes Cause You to Ingest Metal and Become Ill?
On July 14 2019, a Facebook user shared a photograph purportedly illustrating the risks posed by grill brushes and the metal they can leave behind attaching to food that is consumed. In an attached status update, the poster warned: I would suggest to
Truth or Fiction?→ Did George Washington Say Citizens Gain the Right to Unseat the Government if the Government Restricts Guns?
In May 2019, the Facebook page “McGroarty for Freedom” shared the following meme containing a quote attributed to George Washington concerning the rights of citizens to bear arms: Across a black background, white text read: “Wh
Truth or Fiction?→ A View of San Francisco ‘Yesterday’?
On July 20 2019 the Facebook page “The Modern Conservative” shared the following image, purportedly showing San Francisco the day before: Commenters lamented the purported state of the city underneath the photograph: SF is going downhil
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Addiction’ Sculpture in Amsterdam
In June 2019, the Facebook page “Archeology & Civilizations” shared the following image, purportedly of a sculpture in Amsterdam called “Addiction.” That post wasn’t the only time the same piece title and description
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the Hotel Closest To Area 51 Fully Booked for the ‘Storm Area 51’ Event?
Buzz about the viral “Storm Area 51” Facebook event continued through July 2019, including an article on a site called AnonNews.co about a flurry of hotel bookings for the venue nearest the famed military installation: Despite the warnings
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Ilhan Omar Become a Citizen Before Melania Trump?
On July 16 2019, the Facebook page “Yes She Can” shared a meme with claim that Rep. Ilhan Omar had been an American citizen longer than First Lady Melania Trump (née Knauss): Text posted with the meme went as follows: Isn’t it in
Truth or Fiction?→ Was an Iowa Official Fired for His Love of Tupac Shakur?
In mid-July 2019, claims appeared that 66-year-old Iowa official Jerry Foxhoven was fired from his job because of his strong affection for legendary hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur: In the linked July 18 2019 article, UNILAD reported: A 66-year-old wh
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Federal Guidelines List ‘Go Back Where You Came From’ as an Example of Harassment?
On July 16 2019, producer Nick Ramsey sent a tweet referencing a controversy involving U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that people unhappy with the United States should “go back to where they came from”: … from the @u
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Menthol Shaving Cream (or Foam) a Remedy for Sunburned Skin?
A June 2018 Facebook post recommending menthol shaving cream (or shaving foam, as it is called in the UK) to alleviate the pain of sunburns has accrued more than 230,000 shares. A repost by another person with the same photographs was also shared tho
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Riots and War End Japanese Internment, Slavery, and World War II?
On July 16 2019, the Facebook page “Close the Camps” shared the following screenshot (archived here) of a Facebook post asserting that riots, rebellion, and war were necessary to put a stop to concentration camps, World War II, and slaver
Truth or Fiction?→ Did United States President Barack Obama Remove a ‘Citizenship Question’ from the Census?
In July 2019, a Facebook user shared a text-based status update about the census-related “citizenship question,” which claimed that such a question had existed on the United States Census for 160 years — until President Obama outlawed
Truth or Fiction?→ Did ‘Leftist Protesters’ Scream ‘F*** the Troops’ at a Detention Facility Protest in Aurora?
On July 15 2019, Facebook user DC Draino and Twitter user @StClairAshley shared footage purportedly showing a confrontation between StClair and unnamed “leftist protesters” outside an immigration detention facility in Aurora, Colorado:
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘YesJuliet’ Instagram Murder Rumors
On July 14 2019, rumors began spreading on Instagram, Reddit, Discord, 4Chan, Twitter, and other social media sites about purported disturbing posts shared by Instagram user @YesJuliet about an alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl named Bianca Devins
Truth or Fiction?→ Was the U.S. Women’s National Team Defeated by Teenaged Boys in a 2017 Soccer Match?
After the United States Women’s National Team beat the Netherlands 2 to 0 to win the World Cup in July 2019, the fans of the nation’s soccer team were delighted. It also lent serious heft to the players’ demand for pay and treatment
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Third World Country? Nah, LA California’
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
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Water Intoxication in Dogs’ Warning
A July 2018 Facebook warning about dogs suffering from water intoxication continued circulating in 2019, describing the unexpected death of an otherwise healthy pet: This appeared to be a copy of an individual’s Facebook post to a page with a
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?→ Were There Drive-Throughs in Ancient Rome?
In July 2019, the Facebook page “Nerds Raging” shared the following Tumblr screenshot, which consists of one purported book passage about drive-through restaurants in ancient Rome and subsequent humorous commentary: Underneath a screens
Truth or Fiction?→ Is a ‘Perfect Road Trip’ of Obscenely-Named Towns Real?
On July 4 2019, the Facebook page “Gringott’s Bank of Enchanted Memes” shared a meme (archived here) illustrating a purported route through the United Kingdom with a number of licentious and salacious location names: From top to b
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?→ ‘Doing it Wrong’ Glade Air Freshener Meme
On June 29 2019, the Facebook page “Be My Guest” shared a meme about the purportedly widespread, incorrect use of Glade brand air fresheners (archived here): Under text reading “I’ve been doing it wrong all my life,” t
Truth or Fiction?→ Disney, Ariel, and the ‘White Mermaids’ Dispute
In early July 2019, Haile Bailey’s casting as main character Ariel in a live-action reboot of Disney’s animated film The Little Mermaid caused controversy on social media, sparking a meme about another person of color having appeared in
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 a Symbolic Random Chat Room Name Appear After Etika’s Death?
After the death of YouTube gaming streamer Etika was confirmed in late June 2019, his on-and-off girlfriend Alice Pika hosted a memorial livestream on June 26 2019. Not long after, a rumor circulated on Reddit and other sites about what the appearance
Truth or Fiction?→ Sparkler Ash Dog Death Warning
On June 26 2019, a Facebook user posted the following story about the death of their pug Zoe, urging other users to be aware of the purported danger posed by spent firework and sparkler ash: In part of the post, Copp said that Zoe had recently died
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?→ Did Dwight Eisenhower Say Someday ‘Someone Will Claim It Never Happened’ in 1945?
On June 9 2019, the Facebook page “No To Theocracy” shared the following meme (archived here), featuring a quote in which President Dwight Eisenhower appeared to have predicted Holocaust denial: Above a photograph skeletal human remains
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Man Get Plastic Surgery and Change His Name to Circumvent a Restraining Order?
A December 2018 article headlined, “Man gets plastic surgery and name change to date his ex-girlfriend after she obtains restraining order” has appeared intermittently on social media after its publication. No obvious date appeared on the
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Socrates Say ‘When Debate is Lost, Slander Becomes the Tool of the Losers’?
On June 26 2019, Eric Trump tweeted a meme attributing a quote about slander to the philosopher Socrates: pic.twitter.com/ojBEcJPGjt — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 26, 2019 Against an image of what appeared to be a black and white photograph o
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Socrates Say ‘When Debate is Lost, Slander Becomes the Tool of the Losers’?
On June 26 2019, Eric Trump tweeted a meme attributing a quote about slander to the philosopher Socrates: pic.twitter.com/ojBEcJPGjt — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 26, 2019 Against an image of what appeared to be a black and white photograph o
Truth or Fiction?→ Dr. Seuss ‘Foreign Children’ Comic
In June 2019, the following meme featuring a quote by a Fox News personality and a purported comic by Dr. Seuss on “foreign children” circulated on social media: At the top of the meme was a screenshot of Fox News’ Fox & Friends
Truth or Fiction?→ Dr. Seuss ‘Foreign Children’ Comic
In June 2019, the following meme featuring a quote by a Fox News personality and a purported comic by Dr. Seuss on “foreign children” circulated on social media: At the top of the meme was a screenshot of Fox News’ Fox & Friends
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