On April 27 2021, Trendolizer.com featured a TrendingPolitics.com item titled “UH OH: New Poll Spells Doom For Democrats In The 2022 Midterm Elections” for much of the day — purportedly reporting unfavorable polling data then-recently
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ Sen. Lora Reinbold/Alaska Airlines Mask Controversy
In an April 26 2021 Imgur post, an Occupy Democrats meme took Alaska state senator Lora Reinbold (R) to task for her purported refusal to wear a mask on an Alaska Airlines flight: Text under a photograph of a woman read: PLAY KAREN GAMES, WIN KAREN P
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Animatronics at Disneyland Tokyo
On April 23 2021, a Reddit user shared a post (“Disneyland Tokyo is making a Beauty and the Beast ride, the animatronics look insane”) to r/gifs, including a short looping clip of the highly realistic attraction features: Disneyl
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Pockets in Dresses Were Phased Out So Women Could Prove They Were Not Witches’
On April 19 2021, a Facebook user shared a screenshot of a tweet claiming that pockets had been “phased out” of women’s dresses due to accusations of witchcraft, and so that women could prove that they were not hiding spells, herbs, o
Truth or Fiction?→ Scannable QR Code in the Sky in Shanghai
On April 23 2021, an Imgur user shared a purportedly recent photograph from Shanghai, depicting a giant scannable QR code in the night sky: Two days earlier, a Facebook user shared a clearer photograph, describing the QR code display as the “fut
Truth or Fiction?→ Alleged Billboard Renews Interest in Online Campaign to ‘Bring Back Tony Stark to Life’
On April 22 2021, a fan campaign seeking to resurrect the Marvel Studios version of the character Tony Stark drew attention on social media with what appeared to be a photo of a billboard. We contacted Outfront Media, the company which owns the billboa
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘The Tax Increase Doesn’t Apply to the Whole Salary, Just the Amount Above $400,000’
On April 21 2021, an Imgur account shared an undated Twitter screenshot; the tweet was originally by the account by @davenewworld_2 (Fifty Shades of Whey) in October 2020: The tax increase doesn't apply to the whole salary, just the amount abov
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Biden Tells Un-Vaccinated Americans They May Have to Cancel the Fourth of July’
On April 22 2021, repeat disinformation offender Hannity.com published a post with the outrage-bait headline, “JOE NO! Biden Tells Un-Vaccinated Americans They May Have to Cancel the Fourth of July,” which contained a single paragraph of or
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Columbus Police Not Arrest Anyone After a College ‘Party’ That Left Cars Overturned?
As criticism swirled around the police department in Columbus, Ohio for its extrajudicial killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, more than a few commenters on social media pointed out that officers seemed much less aggressive when it came to a lo
Truth or Fiction?→ Daily Wire: BLM ‘Fuming’ After Chauvin ‘Guilty’ Verdict
According to Trendolizer.com on April 21 2021, one of the most viral links of the day was DailyWire.com outrage bait headlined, “Black Lives Matter Activists Following Conviction: ‘We’re Never Gonna Be Satisfied,’ ‘Burn It Down!’”
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ‘Vacation’ in Florida?
Right-wing blogs and political operatives again targeted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on April 20 2021 by accusing her of going on a “vacation” in Florida. The story was first reported in the newsletter Michigan Information & Research
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Brian Williams Say Activists Should Join Police Departments?
MSNBC presenter Brian Williams came under criticism on April 20 2021 after attempting to offer analysis following the murder conviction of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Footage of the segment posted by RealClearPolitics shows Williams was s
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Trump Versus Biden Tax Plans’ Meme
A February 24 2021 Facebook post purportedly contrasted the dueling tax plans of former U.S. President Donald Trump with current U.S. President Joe Biden. The post was highly popular, accruing close to a million shares in just under two months: In wha
Truth or Fiction?→ Rep. Maxine Waters Accused of ‘Inciting a Riot’
On April 19 2021, far-right blogger and commentator Dan Bongino shared an hour-long video under the title “Ep. 1502 Caught on Tape, Maxine Waters Is Inciting Violence.” It appeared to be very similar to a claim tweeted by self-styled right-
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Monastery of Sakia, Library Found in Tibet Containing 84,000 Secret Manuscripts’
A February 6 2021 Facebook post purportedly detailed the discovery of a hidden library at a monastery in Tibet which contained thousands of “secret manuscripts”: The Post As originally written, the post read: ¡Increíble! Biblioteca encont
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Birth Control Pills 1000 Times More Likely To Cause Blood Clots Than The J&J Vaccine?
An April 13 2021 Facebook screenshot of a tweet was part of disordered discourse surrounding a “pause” by the Biden administration of the Johnson & Johnson shot for COVID-19. As conspiracy theories about and disinformation about the eff
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a BBC Official Say an Idris Elba Character Wasn’t ‘Black Enough to be Real’?
A British broadcasting official’s critique of Idris Elba’s popular detective show Luther spread exponentially in April 2021 following a questionable quote in a British tabloid. According to the Daily Mail: The BBC’s diversity chief ha
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a U.S. Army Sergeant Caught On Video Harassing a Black Youth?
A white sergeant in the U.S. Army was arrested on April 14 2021, days after video spread online of him berating a Black youth in a subdivision near Columbia, South Carolina. The local Post & Courier newspaper confirmed that 42-year-old Jonathan Pen
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘In 2020, There Were 18 Days When Police Officers Didn’t Kill Anyone At All’
On April 14 2021, Imgur user ButtBot9900 shared a screenshot of a tweet by an account called @LAPDParody, which claimed there were only “18 days in 2020” where American police officers “didn’t kill anyone at all.” No date
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘George Floyd’s Girlfriend Was Daunte Wright’s Teacher, Fred Hampton’s Mom Babysat Emmett Till’
An April 13 2021 tweet made an unsettling claim — that the girlfriend of George Floyd was Daunte Wright’s teacher, and that Fred Hampton’s mother occasionally babysat Emmett Till: Finding out that George Floyd’s girlfriend was Dau
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Founded on a Ku Klux Klan Member’s Land?
Increased scrutiny on the town of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota following the extrajudicial killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in April 2021 also brought back to light the community’s historical link with the infamous white supremacist group the K
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Did You Know Disney Once Considered Building a Park Dedicated Entirely to Villains Called the Dark Kingdom?’
On April 6 2021, a popular Imgur post involved a purported Disney fact — namely that Disney once conceived, then scrapped, plans for a “Dark Kingdom” theme park, with its branding focused around Maleficent’s castle: The Imgur P
Truth or Fiction?→ Charlie Kirk Has Dueling Opinions on ‘Resist’ and ‘Disobey’
On April 13 2021, an Imgur user shared Twitter screenshots purportedly showing contradictory opinions from right-wing activist Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA, an organization promoting far right views on high school and college campuses. In a post t
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Raise a ‘Thin Blue Line’ Flag?
As criticism swirled around law enforcement in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota — following yet another extrajudicial killing by police — the department was also spotted mounting a flag outside its offices commonly associated with far-right propa
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Y’all, Check Your Attics’ Facebook Warning
In April 2021, a March 8 2019 Facebook post about a man caught secretly living in a woman’s attic went viral — purportedly told from the point of view of the unfortunate woman’s son. The Post and its Variations Originally, the text of
Truth or Fiction?→ Wandavision Tangled Meme: ‘Wait a Damn Minute’
In March 2021, the Facebook page “Marvellous Realm” shared the following image, which purportedly shows an “Easter egg” involving the live-action 2021 Disney+ show WandaVision, contrasted with what appeared to be a still from t
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Matt Gaetz Wants to Date Your Child’ Billboard in Florida
On April 9 2021, an Imgur post made a titular claim that a Florida billboard stated “Matt Gaetz wants to date your child” — but that post, which was quite popular, did not include a photograph of the purported sign: Instead, the subm
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Under Stalin, Repression Was So Severe That Soviet Gulags Held 22% Of the World’s Prison Population’
On April 8 2021, Imgur user “superscout0233” shared the following meme with a fakeout ending, initially stating that “under [Joseph] Stalin,” the Soviet Union’s gulags held 22 percent of the world’s prison population
Truth or Fiction?→ Rap Legend DMX’s Death Confirmed Hours After Confusion Online
Hip-hop icon DMX died on April 9 2021, hours after confusion spread on social media thanks to premature reports of his passing. The music news outlet XXL posted a statement sent by the rapper’s representatives: We are deeply saddened to announce
Truth or Fiction?→ Was ‘Syndrome K’ a Fake Illness Invented By Italian Doctors to Save Jewish People From Nazis?
On April 8 2021, Imgur user “ThisTimeLastYear” reposted the history meme below, which claimed that Italian doctors once developed a fictitious disease called “Syndrome K” to hide Jewish people from advancing Nazis: A disease f
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A 1916 Propaganda Map Created by the Allies During World War I’
On April 6 2021, an Imgur user shared a screenshot of an undated tweet that purportedly depicted a “propaganda map” created by the Allied powers during the first World War: A 1916 propaganda map created by the Allies during World War I.
Truth or Fiction?→ Midwin Charles ‘Just Got Vaccinated’ Tweet
After the sudden death of commentator Midwin Charles (disclosed on April 6 2021), a tweet attributed to Charles stating that she “just got vaccinated” circulated on Twitter: The tweet, which was dated 10:18 AM on March 1 2021, said: Just g
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Spring/Summer PSA’ on Rabbit Nests and Mowing
As spring began in the Northern Hemisphere, screenshots of a post warning readers planning yardwork to be on the lookout for rabbits and their nests began to circulate: We were able to track down what appeared to be the original post (frequently share
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘This Superman Poster From the 1950s Is Pretty Awesome’
On April 6 2020, Imgur user u/Crabsforeveryone shared a “pretty awesome” poster of Superman which was purportedly released in the 1950s: That post was image-only, with no links indicating whether the poster was accurately represented. Text
Truth or Fiction?→ Politicians Claim That Deaths By Suicide Increased During Lockdowns; Mortality Report Says Otherwise
On April 4 2021, Twitter user Elizabeth Jacobs PhD (@TheAngryEpi) tweeted about political claims involving quarantine-related suicides in 2020, contrasted with March 2021 data about mortality rates for the year before: Politicians told us repeatedly
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Harvard University Branch of the Ku Klux Klan’ in 1924
On March 28 2021, the Facebook page “Bread and Roses 1912-2012” shared the following post, purportedly showing a Harvard University branch of the Ku Klux Klan in 1924: A status update/caption asserted: Members of the Harvard University bra
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Click Farm in Asia Where Low Paid Workers Are Used to Inflate Video Views and Trick Advertisers’
On April 1 2021, the following post to Reddit’s r/interestingasfuck hit r/all, purportedly depicting a low-paid “click farm” employee on the job — sitting in front of dozens of iPhones and smartphones, presumably engaged in clic
Truth or Fiction?→ Rep. Matt Gaetz’s 2017 ‘Pace HS’ Tweet Resurfaces Amid Scandal
A popular March 31 2021 Imgur post featured a purported screenshot of a 2017 tweet by Rep. Matt Gaetz (including a photograph of Gaetz and teenaged girls), along with a title indicating the content “aged poorly”: I’d say this tweet a
Truth or Fiction?→ Harvard’s ‘Anti-Asian Racism Resources’: ‘You May Wish That You Weren’t Asian’
Just before midnight on March 30 2021, Harvard student and journalist Matteo Wong published a tweet thread about a Harvard University “anti-Asian racism resources” page — primarily, a purported section offering that readers “m
Truth or Fiction?→ Comedian Reveals Himself as Creator of Viral ‘Darla From Amazon’ Twitter Account
A Chicago comedian revealed on March 30 2021 that he was the creator of at least one Twitter account that had users wondering whether it was a real “ambassador” for Amazon, as the tech megacorporation faced both a unionization vote and more