April 2019 saw the culmination of a months-long popular uprising in the country of Sudan, when its former president Omar al-Bashir stepped down from his post. The Sudanese military quickly took control of the country in what it called a transitional p
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ Was the Word ‘Homosexual’ Only Added to Leviticus 18:22 in 1983?
On June 11 2019 Twitter user @n_robe shared the following tweet, claiming that the word “homosexual” was only added to the Bible in 1983 as a pretext for codifying anti-gay sentiments in Christianity: happy pride month everyone. the word
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Gyro Drop’ Ride Video
On June 13 2019, @Complex tweeted the following footage, purportedly showing a ride called “Gyro Drop” and its “swing” feature: WHO WOULD INVENT A RIDE LIKE THIS??? pic.twitter.com/moRN6N4UbV — Complex (@Complex) June 13
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Supreme Court Rule 5-4 Against Swearing in on the Qur’an?
On June 11 2019, a Facebook user shared the following text-based status update (archived here), claiming the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against the use of the Qur’an for swearing oaths: Right off the bat, the format of the post was a scourge to fa
Truth or Fiction?→ Can Shaking Your Phone Report Posts and Land Your Friends in Facebook Jail?
In June 2019, a number of Facebook posts popped up warning mobile users of a purported new mobile feature in which shaking a phone with the social media platform’s mobile app open could lead to automatic reporting of posts (and, readers surmised
Truth or Fiction?→ Does an X-Ray Show Hundreds of Undigested Boba Pearls in a Young Chinese Patient?
In June 2019, a number of websites and news outlets reported that a young girl in China was treated for symptoms related to the discovery of “hundreds” of undigested boba pearls in her digestive tract via x-ray. Notably, headlines for the
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Steinway and Sons Airdrop Pianos During World War II?
In June 2019, a Facebook page shared the following image (archived here) and story about Steinway & Sons pianos dropped into areas of combat during World War II: A status update said of the image: During World War II, Steinway & Sons airdro
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Slaves Braid Routes to Freedom Into Hairstyles?
In February 2019, a Facebook user shared a post (archived here) that showed patterns for hairstyles with a claim that slaves used braid patterns to plot out routes to freedom: What if I told you all, during slavery, our ancestors braided escape route
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Keanu Reeves Tweet ‘Be Kind to Animals or I’ll Kill You’?
In June 2019 (not long after the feature film John Wick 3 was released), a purported tweet attributed to Keanu Reeves began circulating on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and meme sites. Screenshots of what looked like a verified @KeanuReeves account twee
Truth or Fiction?→ Viral Facebook Video of Unknown Creature on Home Security Footage
On June 6 2019, a Facebook user shared the following clip (archived here), asking readers to identify what appeared to be an unusual creature captured on home security footage: In comments, the original uploader responds to a question about whethe
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Julia Roberts Say Women Are Not Rehabilitation Centers for Badly Raised Men?
On June 7 2019, the Facebook page “Sarcastic Mama” shared the above quote meme (archived here), featuring a photograph of Julia Roberts superimposed with a quote about women not being “rehabilitation centers for badly raised men.
Truth or Fiction?→ The Chernobyl ‘Bridge of Death’
In May 2019, the release of HBO’s show Chernobyl caused a spike of interest in all aspects of the nuclear disaster — including the revival of some long-forgotten rumors. A postscript relating to a scene in Pripyat brought back one suck story
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Neither the Fanatics Nor the Faint-Hearted Are Needed’
In April 2019, a Facebook user shared the following meme (archived here), which purportedly provided several lines from an undelivered speech scheduled for U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Above an excerpted portion of text, the me
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Dutch Teenager Euthanized Because of Rape Trauma?
In early June 2019, a number of English-speaking news organizations reported that a 17-year-old Dutch girl named Noa Pothove had been “euthanized” at her request, following years of unsuccessful treatment due to the trauma of rape and sexu
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Media Refuse to Cover Massive Crowds in England Chanting ‘We Love Trump’?
On June 4 2019, Facebook user James Johnson shared a video (archived here) purportedly showing large crowds of supporters shouting “we love Trump.” He then claimed that news outlets in the United Kingdom and United States deliberately refu
Truth or Fiction?→ Donald Trump’s British Fans?
In June 2019, as United States President Donald Trump visited Britain to meet with the royal family and elected officials, a photograph purportedly of his English fans appeared on social media and made the usual rounds. One popular variation (archived
Truth or Fiction?→ Are the Streets of Los Angeles Littered with Syringes?
On June 1 2019, the Facebook page “All Eyes On Me: Los Angeles” shared the following image (archived here) of seemingly discarded hypodermic needles in the city: A very brief description did not provide much context for the image, simpl
Truth or Fiction?→ Did It Snow in Québec in June 2019?
On June 2 2019, a Facebook user shared the following image (archived here), purportedly showing a thick covering of snow that had fallen on that date in Québec. A reverse image search did not indicate that the user’s image of snow in Québec in
Truth or Fiction?→ Does an Image Show Dogs Euthanized in a Single Day in an Average American Shelter?
On June 2 2019, the Facebook page “Pawz” shared the following post (archived here), tugging on readers’ heartstrings by claiming that the photograph represented routine daily euthanizations in an average shelter: A caption implied
Truth or Fiction?→ Trump Rally vs. Live Aid
In May 2019, a suspicious looking meme began to make the usual rounds on social media. It shows a huge crowd of people packing a venue raptly gazing at a stage bearing “Trump 2020” signs on either side, with a third Trump banner over the a
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the MTA Posting Pride Signs on the NYC Subway?
In June 2019, social media users shared images of what appeared to be official New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway signage marking Pride month: Happy Pride Month from the NYC MTA. pic.twitter.com/MBF6twBAXI — bigkidal (@
Truth or Fiction?→ Wrist Freckle Myth
The hunt for an “identical wrist freckle” among women on social media went viral in May 2019 following a widely-shared tweet: ladies….. u got a freckle on the middle of ur wrist or is this a myth lmao pic.twitter.com/VpwkkeWKTj &mda
Truth or Fiction?→ Can You Use Cornmeal to Keep Weed Seeds from Germinating?
In February 2019, the Facebook page “Country n garden” shared a post (archived here) borrowed from another source, which claimed that cornmeal is an effective substance in home gardens to prevent the spread of weeds: Above an image of
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Eradicated Diseases Making a Comeback Because of Immigrants and Refugees?
In April 2019, the Facebook page “Donald Plants” shared the following meme (archived here), which claimed that six “eradicated diseases” are in the process of “making a comeback” thanks to the presence of refugees
Truth or Fiction?→ Infant Mortality Rates vs. Abortion Bans Meme
On May 30 2019 the Facebook page “Occupy Democrats” shared the following meme (archived here), purportedly contrasting rates of infant mortality in states which had recently passed or had pending restrictions on abortion: In a column on
Truth or Fiction?→ Was the USS John McCain Hidden From Sight for President Donald Trump’s Japan Visit?
On May 29 2019, a claim published by the Wall Street Journal was quickly picked up by other news organizations, all relating a story about President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan and his purported disdain for the USS John McCain: The White Hou
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the ‘New Congresswoman from Michigan’ Describing ‘What the Enemies of America’ Plan to Do?
On May 26 2019, rock musician turned conservative commentator Ted Nugent shared the following video and caption to his Facebook page: Listen very closely to the new congresswoman from Michigan what the enemies of America believe especially on Memorial
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Say ‘We Can Land on the Sun, We Just Have to Go at Night?’
On January 31 2019, a Facebook user shared the following meme (archived here), claiming that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had once said that it was possible to “land on the sun” and “we just have to go at night”: Not only d
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Milkshake Thrown at an Elderly Brexit Party Volunteer?
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
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?→ ‘Indonesian Reporting Commission’ Facebook Purge Controversy
On the evening of May 15 2019, participants in popular Facebook groups and related pages became swamped by notifications that they were changing en masse from “closed” to “secret” after other groups with high membership counts
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