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
Publication: Fact Checks
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?→ Is North Carolina Changing Rape Laws So Victims Cannot ‘Withdraw Consent’?
Amid a rash of near-total abortion bans in various American states in May 2019, a screenshot of two tweets regarding sexual consent laws in North Carolina caused further confusion on social media. As of May 22 2019, one of the two tweets was deleted,
Truth or Fiction?→ Will a Kentucky Bill Mandate That Women Confirm Whether They’re Pregnant Every Month?
In May 2019, links to and screenshots of Kentucky HB 148 began circulating on social media, often alongside posts baffled about the bill’s purported provisions mandating that women in the state “shall acquire a signed and notarized stateme
Truth or Fiction?→ Is a 1989 ‘U.N. Predicts Disaster if Global Warming Not Checked’ Article Authentic?
On May 14 2019, a Facebook user shared the following screenshot (archived here), purportedly showing a 1989 Associated Press item prognosticating “disaster” by the year 2000 if “global warming” remained unchecked: In the scree
Truth or Fiction?→ Are New Abortion Laws in Alabama and Ohio Defined as ‘Forced Pregnancy’ under UN Genocide Conventions?
On May 17 2019, a Facebook user shared one of several social media claims that controversial new near-total abortion bans in Alabama, Ohio, and Georgia constituted “forced pregnancy” under United Nations (UN) regulations governing the defi
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Man Have a Heart Attack After His Wife Faked His Lover’s Head in the Fridge?
On May 18 2019, the Facebook page “Husbands & Partners of Menopausal Women” shared the following image (archived here), with a caption suggesting that a man had a heart attack after viewing what appeared to be the severed head of his
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?→ Is Joel Osteen Ministries Charging Facebook Commenters for ‘Prayer Requests’?
In May 2019, screenshots of a purported exchange between a prayer-seeking fan and the Joel Osteen Ministries page began circulating on social media: In the screenshot, someone posted: “I am requesting prayer for my marriage.” In respon
Truth or Fiction?→ Could Alabama Women Be Jailed for 99 Years Under a New Abortion Law?
On May 14 2019, the state of Alabama’s legislature passed an extremely restrictive law banning nearly all abortions, and social media posts suggested women faced 99 years in prison for obtaining an abortion under its provisions. The claim appear
Truth or Fiction?→ Does the Alabama Abortion Ban Have a ‘False Rape’ Reporting Clause?
Four days before the Alabama Senate voted to pass a near-total ban on abortion in Alabama, a Facebook screenshot by act.tv of two tweets (archived here) claimed that the legislation included a clause enabling imprisoning those reporting rapes in the
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?→ Did Congress Declare the Bible the ‘Word of God’?
On April 30 2019, the following post appeared (archived here) claiming Congress declared the Bible the “Word of God” via an October 1982 law, and promptly went viral. It shows an image of yellowed paper that appears to be an official de
Truth or Fiction?→ Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala Dress, Photoshop Edition
Kim Kardashian West’s ensemble for the May 6 2019 Met Gala ball in New York made headlines for its film-inspired “wet” look, ruching, and extreme corseting, drawing the attention of fashion reporters and blogs even amid the campiness
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a Proposed Ohio Bill Make the Pill and IUDs Illegal?
In May 2019, a number of posts about “heartbeat bills” in various American states circulated on social media. For example, a rumor about Georgia (archived here) subsequently appeared that proposed legislation would purportedly ban birth c
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?→ Delta Union-Busting ‘Video Games’ Poster
On May 9 2019, a poster attributed to Delta Airlines apparently urging workers to forgo union dues in favor of purchasing video gaming consoles circulated on Facebook and Twitter: lol fuck off @Delta pic.twitter.com/fMNOeW9uFG — Eoin Higgins (@
Truth or Fiction?→ New Georgia Abortion Law Conspiracy to Commit Murder Clause
On May 7 2019, a Facebook user shared the following screenshot of an apparent article (archived here), along with a lengthy comment about extremely restrictive new abortion laws in the state of Georgia: A lengthy comment from the original poster (par
Truth or Fiction?→ Is a Proposed Bill in Texas Trying to Disenfranchise the Elderly and Poor by Prohibiting Transportation to Polls?
On May 6 2019, the following tweet described proposed legislation in Texas that would purportedly disenfranchise voters unable to drive themselves to the polls: Texas Sen. Bryan Hughes' new bill, S. Bill 9, will disallow driving of elderly, disa
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?→ Is This a Video of Lyanna Mormont/Bella Ramsey Breakdancing?
On May 4 2019, Barstool Sports shared the following clip on Twitter and Facebook, both captioned “Lady Mormont has the god damn MOVES”: Lady Mormont has the god damn MOVES pic.twitter.com/8InLOtxpUl — Barstool Sports (@barstoolspor
Truth or Fiction?→ Can You Grow ‘Tiffany Blue Roses’ from Seeds?
On May 5 2019, the Facebook page “Crafty Morning” shared a photograph of and affiliate link to purported “Tiffany Blue” roses (archived here), urging page fans to click through and purchase seeds to grow the stunning flowers:
Truth or Fiction?→ Can Twins Have Different Fathers?
On May 4 2019, the Facebook page “Facts that will blow your mind” shared the following meme about the ability of women to “get pregnant while already pregnant”: Text superimposed on an image of a pregnant woman read: Not on
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?→ Do the Colors You See in a Photograph Reveal Left or Right Brain Dominance?
On May 3 2019, @CNYcentral shared the following tweet featuring a photograph of a shoe with a claim that the colors in which it appeared to render revealed whether a reader is either “left-brained” or “right-brained”: WHAT COL
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?→ Did Lindsey Graham Call Donald Trump a ‘Kook’ and ‘Not Fit to Lead’ in 2016?
On May 1 2019, the Facebook page “The Other 98%” shared the following meme (archived here), contrasting 2016 with 2019 quotes from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and characterizations of President Trump as a “kook” who
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Chicago Police Urinate on Food for a Black Panthers Free Breakfast Program in 1969?
On April 29 2019, a researcher shared the following tweet showing a screenshot of text reporting that in 1969, police in Chicago had urinated on food and supplies gathered by the Black Panthers for a free breakfast program: Holy shit – I’m r
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?→ Is Atlanta Urging People ‘Not to Dump Trash on White Supremacists’ Lawns’?
On April 29 2019, an image of a purported notice from the City of Atlanta urging residents “not to” dump trash on white supremacists’ lawns went viral: yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
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
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Facebook Deem Images of 9/11 Offensive and Prohibit Them?
On April 1 2019, a Facebook user shared a photograph of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (archived here), claiming that the social media site “feels this photo is offensive and keeps removing it or hiding it”: Apparently Faceb
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a ‘Leaked’ British Intelligence Document Prove Trump Wiretapping Claims?
In April 2019, in the days and weeks following the release of a heavily anticipated (and heavily redacted) Special Counsel’s report on interference into the 2016 United States presidential elections, rumors and speculation reinvigorated a March