On June 19 2021, a popular stock trading-based Twitter account tweeted about Citadel hedge fund manager Ken Griffin purportedly selling a condominium in Florida, interpreted as a bullish signal by many retail investors: Well well well, how the turns
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the ‘Illinois Father’ Who Criticized CRT Candace Owens’ Brother?
On June 18 2021, Twitter discourse about a viral video of an “Illinois father” discussing critical race theory expanded to suggest the man in the video was Candace Owens’ brother: This is literally Candace Owens’s brother. I’m
Truth or Fiction?→ 2020 Arizona Ballots Sent to a Lab in Montana
On June 16 2021, news appeared that an ongoing, disinformation-riddled “audit” of 2020 ballots from Arizona had been moved to a remote cabin in Montana for purported further “analysis”: The "secured" Arizona ballots
Truth or Fiction?→ Fox’s Tucker Carlson Pushes Conspiracy Theory Blaming FBI For Capitol Riot
Television presenter Tucker Carlson pushed another far right conspiracy theory downplaying the rioters who attacked the United States Capitol in January 2021, suggesting on his show that the attack was orchestrated by federal “operatives.”
Truth or Fiction?→ 100 Year Old Rhododendron and the Woman Who Planted It
On June 10 2021, the Facebook page “Happy Garden” shared an image with text reading “100 year old rhododendron and the woman who planted it”; the same image was shared to Imgur on June 15 2021: In the format widely seen across
Truth or Fiction?→ Could Travelers to the United States Be Charged $200 for COVID Antigen Tests?
A professor of immunology from New York is calling attention to the price of a COVID-19 testing service for passengers flying through New York City. Dr. Miriam Merad, director of the Precision Immunology Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Petition to Not Allow Jeff Bezos Re-Entry to Earth’
On June 15 2021, an Imgur account shared a purported screenshot of a Change.org petition that bore the blunt and to-the-point title, “Petition To Not Allow Jeff Bezos Re-Entry To Earth”: The context of the petition and its focus on Amazon
Truth or Fiction?→ Bob Marley ‘I Wish We Were All Hippies’ Quote
A June 11 2021 Facebook post attributed a quote (beginning with “I wish we were all hippies”) to late musician Bob Marley, and that post has since spread like wildfire: Nothing in the image nor the status update inspired confidence that t
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Socialism Sucks’ Meme
In June 2021 (and earlier) a screenshot of a Reddit meme about “why socialism sucks” circulated, with a meme purportedly showing Cuba and Detroit — not “USA” and “USSR” as the text indicated: Seriously pic.tw
Truth or Fiction?→ Margaret Mead ‘Femur’ Quote
On June 8 2021, a Facebook page shared a long-circulating quote attributed to anthropologist Margaret Mead about civilization’s earliest sign of appearing being a healed femur. In a status update, the page wrote “Be Civilized!” and ad
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Ashleigh Shackelford Teaching Critical Race Theory’ Video
On June 13 2021, Twitter user @ConceptualJames shared a video which purportedly shows artist and activist Hunter Ashleigh Shackelford teaching critical race theory: "All white people are racist…" "No, you're always going to
Truth or Fiction?→ The ‘Critical Race Theory’ Coordinated Disinformation Campaign
An inauthentically organized, corrosive disinformation campaign taking direct aim at social resilience and anti-racism pushes has taken over school boards throughout the United States in what appears to be a highly coordinated national push — whi
Truth or Fiction?→ White Bell Peppers
On June 10 2021, an image purportedly showing white bell peppers, part of a tweet, and a response comparing them to teeth was In the image, the first user’s handle is cropped out, and they asked if anyone had ever seen white bell peppers. In re
Truth or Fiction?→ David Attenborough ‘Ants in a Jar’
In May and June 2021, a clumsy parable attributed to David Attenborough circulated, telling the story of 100 black ants and 100 fire ants trapped in a jar, who were happy and peaceful until unspecified outside forces began “shaking the jar”
Truth or Fiction?→ Sliders Seaside Grill ‘Handouts’ Controversy
On June 9 2021, an Imgur user shared the following viral tweet, about a Florida-based resturant called Sliders Seaside Grill (and referencing ongoing disinformation campaigns about purported labor shortages): Handouts for me but not for thee says S
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Average Jeans Colors Per State’ Map
On June 8 2021, an Imgur account shared a map chart meme titled “Average Jeans Color per State,” captioned “beware of internet facts,” a message we strongly endorse: Underneath the map (apparently shared to Tumblr), comments f
Truth or Fiction?→ Was an Oregon Republican Filmed Encouraging an Attack on the State Capitol?
Footage published in June 2021 brought to light an Oregon lawmaker’s role in fomenting an armed attack against his state’s capitol nearly seven months earlier. The video, first reported by the Oregonian newspaper, was captured on December 1
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Before You Diagnose Yourself With Depression or Low Self-Esteem …’ Quote
On June 8 2021, an Imgur user shared a quote-based image, attributing “Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes” to Sigmund Freud: Although the
Truth or Fiction?→ Michael Jackson’s Instagram Pronouns
On June 7 2021, the Facebook page “Musick Puns & Memes” shared a May 2021 Twitter screenshot, suggesting that late entertainer Michael Jackson’s Instagram pronouns were changed to “he/he”: Who updated Michael Jackso
Truth or Fiction?→ Foreign Influence Agents Goaded Trump Forums After U.S. Elections, Researchers Say
Foreign agents — particularly those working from or on behalf of Russia — were active on Donald Trump-themed forums in the weeks and months leading up to the January 6 2021 coup attempt at the United States Capitol, a new report says. Accor
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Fireflies Photographed in Trees with Long Time Exposure’
A Facebook post purportedly showing “fireflies photographed in trees with long time exposure” was shared on May 28 2021 to the Facebook group “Weird, Fantastic, Beautiful and Odd,” but soon spread outside its confines: In that
Truth or Fiction?→ Solo Cups’ ‘Measuring Lines’
On May 31 2021, a long-circulating rumor about Solo cups’ “measuring lines” re-emerged on social media: How old were you when you found out these lines are actually measurements? pic.twitter.com/CLybjek6y6 — Eric Alper (@That
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Joe Biden ‘Thinking About Extending’ Public Education to 16 Years?
A pop culture blog grabbed attention in June 2021 with a tweet miscasting part of United States President Joe Biden’s American Family Plan. The post, by an account called @MyMixtapez. said that Biden believes that “12 years of public school
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘White Pride Skittles,’ Explained
On June 3 2021, @NoContextBrits tweeted a photograph of “white pride Skittles,” in what was truly an on-brand tweet: I don’t think that’s the kind of pride they mean… pic.twitter.com/iYAWcAOsAK — No Context Brits (@NoConte
Truth or Fiction?→ Hellmann’s Chunky Mayonnaise
On June 1 2021, a Facebook user shared what appeared to be a photograph of a product called “Hellman’s Chunky Mayonnaise” on a store shelf: A caption read: Who in Caucasia decided this was okay ? Based on the image’s formatti
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Biden Mindlessly Claims White Supremacy is a Bigger Threat to America than ISIS or Terrorism’
On June 1 2021, United States President Joe Biden gave a speech acknowledging the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, offering comments that seem to have pushed disinformation purveyors into previously undreamt-of heights of fantasy. For examp
Truth or Fiction?→ Biden’s ‘Black Entrepreneurs’ Speech in Tulsa
On June 1 and 2 2021, a number of the usual disinformation purveyors claimed that United States President Joe Biden said Black entrepreneurs “don’t have lawyers and accounts like white business owners” in what appeared to be an inau
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Michael Flynn Kicked Off of Twitter — Again?
In May 2021, just after he called for military overthrow of the United States government during a QAnon conference, Twitter halted an alleged attempt by former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to evade being banned by the platform. Flynn had alr
Truth or Fiction?→ Blue’s Clues ‘Top Scars’ Beaver
On May 29 2021, Twitter user @WaferBiscuits tweeted about a beaver on Blue’s Clues who was purportedly bearing scars on their chest, and commended animators for taking the time to include the subtle detail indicative of gender-affirming surgeri
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Closest Pic of Saturn from Inside Its Rings by the Cassini Spacecraft Two Weeks Ago’
On May 29 2021, a Facebook image described as the “closest pic of Saturn” ever, captured from inside its rings by the Cassini spacecraft “two weeks ago” circulated, alongside a May 16 2017 post: That Facebook post included only
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘This Photo of Chick-Fil-This Photo of Chick-Fil-a Honoring Fallen Soldiers on Memorial Day Is Triggering Liberals’
In May 2021, a year-old post about a Chick-Fil-A’s table “honoring fallen soldiers” recirculated, with a secondary claim that the rather innocuous image was somehow “triggering liberals” across social media: Folded flags
Truth or Fiction?→ Jensen Beach Cracker Barrel Employee Death Facebook Post
On May 18 2021 — in the middle of an ongoing national discussion about labor rights and essential workers — a self-identified former Cracker Barrel employee shared a public Facebook post concerning the purported death of a co-worker at the
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Jeffrey Westerfield’ Facebook Post
A virally popular May 2021 Facebook post purportedly told the story of Jeffrey Westerfield, identifying him as a police officer who was killed on his 47th birthday and co-opting the “Say Her Name” movement by adding “Say MY Name”
Truth or Fiction?→ International Disinfo Machines Turning After State-Sponsored Kidnapping of Belarusian Journalist
On May 24 2021, in the hours and days after Belarusian dissident journalist Roman Protasevich was taken from a Ryanair flight that had been rediverted to Minsk and arrested along with his girlfriend, graduate student Sofia Sapega, in a dramatic state-
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘AOC Announces She’s in Therapy’ and ‘Implies Lawmakers Effectively Served in War’ Interview Excerpt
A May 25 2021 WesternJournal.com editorial headlined, “AOC Announces She’s in Therapy After Jan. 6, Implies Lawmakers Effectively ‘Served in War,” began — as one might expect — with a lot of inaccuracies and general
Truth or Fiction?→ The New Hampshire Election Audit
In late May 2021, we spotted a number of “NH election audit” posts on social media (part of a larger narrative push around outcome of the 2020 election), including a May 25 2021 Facebook post on a known disinformation page, “ForAmeri
Truth or Fiction?→ Asparagus for Hangovers
On May 24 2021, an Imgur image showed a bunch of asparagus promoting itself as a hangover cure if eaten before drinking alcohol, in a post titled “Time to party”: ‘Want to Avoid a Hangover? Eat Asparagus!’ Imgur Post A close-up
Truth or Fiction?→ Gretchen Whitmer Bar Photo
We had to check the date on a May 24 2021 Hannity.com blog post, headlined, “AGAIN? Whitmer Apologizes After Photo Leaks Showing Governor at a Local Bar, No Mask, No Distancing,” spotted on Trendolizer’s list of most viral links. Hann
Truth or Fiction?→ Blendoor ‘Black Lives Matter’ Study
On May 21 2021, an item on right-wing disinformation purveyor Dan Bongino’s blog (“Study: Tech Companies That Made Black Lives Matter Pledges Have 20% Fewer Black Employees”) appeared on Trendolizer.com’s list of the day’
Truth or Fiction?→ Are People Returning Pandemic Pets?
Social media and “shaming” often go hand in hand, as was the case with claims that pets were being returned en masse by selfish owners in May 2021 after adopting them at the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic: Can we all agree the