As Halloween loomed, a September 26 2020 Facebook post advising users to give pumpkins a “bleach bath” proved extremely popular, racking up a six-figure share count in just a few days: Alongside an image of a carved pumpkin in a bucket,
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ Did DACA Recipients Pay $891 Million in Federal Taxes?
Shortly after a New York Times report appeared detailing years of financial dealings by United States President Donald Trump, various online posts took the opportunity to highlight the differences between his own reputed practices and those of commun
Truth or Fiction?→ Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Susan Struck
On September 20 2020, two days after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Facebook user Amber LeBeau shared a post claiming that Ginsburg had intervened on behalf of combat nurse Susan Struck, more broadly addressing the narrative
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Cannabis Ice Cream’
In mid-2020, a purported photograph of “cannabis ice cream” circulated on Facebook as a mildly engagement-baiting poll asking whether readers were for or against the putative dessert: Earlier iterations of the image featured the
Truth or Fiction?→ Did J.K. Rowling Promote a Website Selling Transphobic Merchandise?
Author J.K. Rowling — no stranger to controversy — roiled anger in September 2020 after using her Twitter account to promote an online store selling merchandise bearing “gender critical” or transphobic messages. Rowling posted
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This ‘Petri Dish Full of Bacteria Swabbed from a Child’s Mask’ Reveal the Risks of Wearing Masks?
In late September 2020, the following image began circulating on social media, purporting to show what sort of bacteria can be cultured in a petri dish after a face mask was worn by a child for twenty minutes, then swabbed: View this p
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Tweet That the Supreme Court ‘Should Decide the Presidency at Every Election’ and ‘Bad Votes’ Shouldn’t Count?
On September 24 2020, a Facebook user shared a purported screenshot of a tweet by United States President Donald Trump in which he purportedly said that the Supreme Court “should decide the presidency at every election”: A date and timest
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a Potential U.S. Supreme Court Candidate Belong to a Group That Inspired ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’?
News of United States Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death was barely a day old before national figures started to discuss her replacement, despite the opposition of those very same figures to doing so in 2016, after Antonin Scalia
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Recognize Bill Barr for ‘Christlike Behavior’?
On September 23 2020, “Christlike” appeared on Twitter’s list of trending topics due to a viral tweet objecting to a Catholic organization’s decision to honor Attorney General Bill Barr: The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Donald Trump Tweet in 2016 That President Obama Should Wait to Pick a New Supreme Court Justice or ‘Be Fired’?
After the September 2020 death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, amidst the chatter of a possible replacement and what that might mean for the future of the United States, a screenshot of a tweet began circulating which attributed commenta
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘During WWII, Lipstick Became a Sign of Patriotism’
The origin of one anti-fascist tactic circulated again on Facebook in August and September 2020, with some readers getting a new perspective on cosmetics and their impact. The post, which has been shared more than thousands of time times since its pub
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Joe Biden Completely Botches the Pledge of Allegiance’ Video
On September 21 2020, GOP “rapid response director” Steve Guest tweeted a video which he claimed showed that former U.S. Vice President (and Democratic Party presidential candidate) Joe Biden had “completely” botched the Pledge
Truth or Fiction?→ Bar Owner Dies by Suicide After Indictment for Allegedly Shooting, Killing Protester?
On September 22 2020, hyperpartisan site BlueLivesMatter.blue/The Police Tribune published an article headlined, “Bar Owner Commits Suicide After Being Indicted For Shooting Rioter Who Attacked Him”: It began: The Nebraska store
Truth or Fiction?→ CDC Removes ‘Airborne’ COVID-19 Content
On September 21 2020, several prominent tweets suggested that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added, then removed guidance indicating that SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19) was airborne — meaning it could potentially be
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Crying Baby’ Ethics Question Causes Viral Controversy
In September 2020, screenshots of a virtual lesson about the ethics of smothering a crying baby (which was purportedly posed to students in Stevenson, Washington) spread virally on Facebook and Twitter. A September 17 2020 post from user Chellie Anne
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Florida Woman Has Been Accused of Driving a Motorized Shopping Cart Through Target, Drinking Wine, Eating Sushi and Cinnamon Rolls’
On September 16 2020, a Facebook page shared the following highly questionable screenshot about a Florida woman purportedly accused of drinking wine and eating sushi and cinnamon rolls while riding on a motorized shopping cart in a Target store: Ab
Truth or Fiction?→ Tucker Carlson: ‘Well, If That’s What Democratic Socialism is, Then I’m Basically on Board.’
On September 18 2020, Twitter user Alexandra Halaby shared what became a viral tweet — it claimed that Dr. Cornel West appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show and got Carlson to admit that he was “basically on board” with de
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Dallas Teacher Call the Kenosha Homicide Suspect a ‘Hero for the Modern Age’?
In mid-September 2020, the Dallas Independent School District in Texas drew national attention after local outlets began reporting on an assignment comparing a 17-year-old homicide suspect with both civil rights activists and one of the people he kill
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Life Insurance Company’s Attempt to Curb Suicide on a South Korea Bridge Precede an Increase in Deaths?
On September 17 2020, the following post was shared to r/therewasanattempt, which described a purported initiative to curb suicides on South Korea’s Mapo Bridge: to stop suicide from therewasanattempt An image showed two
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘FB Banned over 700 Pages Dedicated to Expose Pedophilia. That Should Scare the Absolute S*** Out of Everyone.’
On September 4 2020, a Facebook user asserted the platform had banned “700 pages” which were “dedicated to expos[ing] pedophilia”: White text against a blue background included the #SaveOurChildren hashtag: FB banned over 70
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘FB Banned over 700 Pages Dedicated to Expose Pedophilia. That Should Scare the Absolute S*** Out of Everyone.’
On September 4 2020, a Facebook user asserted the platform had banned “700 pages” which were “dedicated to expos[ing] pedophilia”: White text against a blue background included the #SaveOurChildren hashtag: FB banned over 70
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Joe Biden Receive Five Deferments During the Vietnam War?
Contrary to what critics claim, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s non-combatant status during the Vietnam War was not underreported prior to his 2020 campaign. Regardless, one Facebook user amassed more than 189,000 shares by claiming,
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘I Just Tested Positive for Coronavirus’ Engagement Bait Spreads on Facebook
On July 25 2020, Facebook user Stiven Flores shared the following photograph, with a claim he had “just tested positive for coronavirus” and an aggressive push for others to share the post in order to collect “prayers”: Alongsi
Truth or Fiction?→ Trump Campaign ‘Antifa Alert’ Diamond Club Text Message
On September 12 2020, a screenshot of a purported Trump campaign text message began circulating — warning recipients that antifa might “attack” their homes and urging them to become a “Diamond Club Member”: Tonight in T
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Josie Huang Identify Herself as Press While Being Arrested?
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s latest attempt to justify the violent arrest of a journalist was clearly exposed as false by video footage of the attack posted by the reporter and other news outlets. Huang, a reporter for KPC
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Louisiana Man Drop Dead Moments After Calling a Woman a Racial Epithet?
In September 2020, what looked like a news article about a Louisiana man who instantly died after using a racial slur to insult a woman went viral across social media platforms: "No one who knew the woman personally spoke to reporters nor th
Truth or Fiction?→ Attempted Florida Pizza Shop Abduction: ‘Hold Tight to Your Babies. 😭😭 They Are Coming for Them’
On September 11 2020, a Facebook user shared the following screen recording of an apparent attempted child abduction, captioned “Hold tight to your babies. They are coming for them”: That had been captured from the Instagram acc
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Facebook Offering to Pay Conservatives to Delete Their Accounts?
A Facebook page catering to right-wing users shared a post in September 2020 misconstruing a new study by the platform as being an incentive program for users in their political sphere. The September 2020 post claims that Facebook “is offering
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Kenosha Car Dealer Kills Himself After His Insurance Won’t Cover a Cent of the 2.5 Million Dollars of Damages’ Caused by BLM Protests
On September 9 2020, a screenshot of a fabricated Fox Business article headlined “Kenosha car dealer kills himself after his insurance won’t cover a cent of the 2.5 million dollars of damages caused by the riots” was shared to meme a
Truth or Fiction?→ Did More Than 12,000 Christians Defy Governor, Worship at California Capitol in September 2020?
On September 7 2020, a Facebook user shared the following post claiming that thousands of Christians had flocked to the California State Capitol the previous day — but the media did not report the large turnout. The post claimed: 12,000 plus Chr
Truth or Fiction?→ Did NFL Fans Boo During a ‘Moment of Unity’?
The opening game of the National Football League’s 2020 campaign drew attention online beyond the boxscore on September 10 2020, as footage spread of fans booing during what the league had hoped would be soothe tensions between players and fans.
Truth or Fiction?→ Is ‘Antifa’ Setting Fires in Oregon?
On September 10 2020, wildfires raged across western states — as did social media rumors that anti-fascist protesters (or “antifa”) started fires in Oregon (and elsewhere) in a coordinated mass attack. Examples Claims often came fro
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the USPS Order the Removal of 671 Mail-Sorting Machines?
As criticism continued to surround Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s tenure atop the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), a meme circulating online highlighted the removal of mail sorting machines in several states. The graphic, first posted on California
Truth or Fiction?→ Are People Trying to Make the Legal Age of Consent 4 Years Old?
A viral September 3 2020 Facebook post claiming that “there are people trying to make the age of consent four years old” racked up a six-figure share count (archived here) in one week: It read: We can’t buy alcohol or ciga
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Single Gender Reveal in California Cause More Property Damage Than All of 2020’s Black Lives Matter Protests Combined?
On September 7 2020, a Facebook user shared a post asserting that a single gender reveal party in 2020 caused more property damage than all of the Black Lives Matter protests throughout the year: White text against a red and orange background read:
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘You Do Know that Eliminating the Payroll Tax Defunds Social Security, Don’t You?’
As a payroll tax deferral ordered by United States President Donald Trump took effect, a Facebook user’s warning went viral: The post states, “Hey folks. ‘You Do Know that Eliminating the Payroll Tax Defunds Social Security, Don’t
Truth or Fiction?→ Was the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a Super-Spreader Event?
September 8 2020 marked approximately one month from the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, and it heralded purported news that the widely-attended gathering served as a “super-spreader event” during an ongoing COVID-19 pand
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Kyle Rittenhouse’s Lawyer Tweet That His Client Started a ‘Second American Revolution’?
On September 2 2020, Twitter user @JoshuaPotash shared the following screenshot, which was purportedly a tweet in which a lawyer for Kyle Rittenhouse — a teenager charged with killing two people — said that his client had fired the first s
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘I Plan to Lead Another Non-Violent March Tomorrow’
A political cartoon depicting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recirculated online in August 2020, as users pointed out the parallels between how his efforts for Black liberation were viewed during his life and skepticism around the Black Lives Mat
Truth or Fiction?→ Conspiracy Forums Amplify Russian Troll Site’s ‘Laundry List’ of Arrested Politicians
A lengthy “copypasta” disinformation post with content dating back to at least 2015 was recirculated online in conspiracy theory forums and Facebook in August and September 2020 — amplified by a Russian website. NBC News reporter Ben