In October 2021, rumors warning that people — mostly women – were being “spiked by injection” spread virally across social media, with several high-engagement versions on Twitter: you’ve been outsmarted by us, we cover our d
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Rent to Own is For the Financially Illiterate’
On October 13 2021, a Facebook user published the following warning about rent-to-own appliances and large purchases, describing the manner in which such transactions functionally served as a tax on low-income people: STAY AWAY FROM RENT to Own Places
Truth or Fiction?→ Did DC Comics ‘Make Superman Gay’?
The announcement that DC Comics’ newest Superman will have a male love interest led to both enthusiasm for some readers of comics and regurgitated moral panics from right-wing pundits and media outlets. The company announced on October 11 2021 th
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Putting Fruit in Mason Jars Make It Last Longer?
On October 12 2021, a Facebook account shared a tip which claimed that putting fruit in Mason jars made it last longer: Idk who needs to know this because it took me 25 years and a TikTok to learn but putting your fruit in mason jars rather than the c
Truth or Fiction?→ NRCC Fundraising Text
On October 13 2021, a bizarre fundraising text that was apparently from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was shared to Twitter by journalist Andrew Solender: These NRCC fundraising texts are getting intense pic.twitter.com/2Sm
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘If the United States Had Managed to Keep Its Covid Death Rate on Par with Canada, the U.S. Would Have About 467,000 Fewer Covid Deaths Today’
On October 14 2021, the following screenshot of a tweet by New York Times correspondent Mike Baker appeared on Imgur, in which he purportedly contrasted the COVID-19 mortality rate in Canada with that of the United States: Primarily, Baker indicated t
Truth or Fiction?→ Tetris and Trauma
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
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?→ ‘Facebook’s Top Ten’ on Twitter Abruptly Changes
On September 28 2021, a single tweet from the “Facebook’s Top 10” Twitter account became notable not for what it showed, but for what it didn’t: The top-performing link posts by U.S. Facebook pages in the last 24 hours are fro
Truth or Fiction?→ DHS Report Confirms Border Officials’ Surveillance Against Journalists and Activists
Federal officials say border authorities wrongfully conducted surveillance against journalists and activists crossing between the United States and Mexico — but the United States stopped short of commenting on whether they broke the law in doing
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?→ How to Fight Disinformation — Part III: Distraction
On September 20 2021, shocking photographs and accompanying video made the rounds on news networks and social media appearing to show border agents on horseback whipping asylum-seekers on foot as they ran in terror: A mounted U.S. Border Patrol agent
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?→ New Book Claims Zuckerberg Let Trump Lie to Avoid Federal Oversight
A new biography of right-wing tech mogul Peter Thiel claims that, according to him, Facebook chief exeutive officer Mark Zuckerberg struck a deal allowing Donald Trump and his allies to spread disinformation in exchange for a lack of federal oversight.
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