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: viral content
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?→ 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?→ ‘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?→ ‘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?→ ‘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?→ 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?→ 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?→ 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?→ 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?→ ‘Lieserl Einstein Donated 1,400 Lost Letters,’ ‘The Universal Force Is Love’ Facebook Post
In May 2021, a years-old post about letters purportedly sent by theoretical physicist Albert Einstein to his daughter Lieserl circulated — likely revived by the “On This Day” or “Memories” function on Facebook. The Post Th
Truth or Fiction?→ McDonald’s ‘$18 an Hour’ Hiring Sign
On May 16 2021, Twitter user Derenic Byrd (@DerenicByrd) shared an image of a hiring banner advertising $18 an hour at McDonald’s, but with an ominous asterisk: See what happens when employers have a hard time finding workers…..? They can
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Colonial Pipeline Was Shut Down Over Fears About Billing Customers’ Rumor
On May 17 2021, a headline screenshot appeared on Imgur with the claim that the May 2021 Colonial Pipeline cyberattack shutdown occurred because its owner wanted to ensure they would still “get paid”: That post included an undated (“
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Fabuloso in Toilet Tank’ TikTok Hack
A March 13 2021 Facebook post featured a TikTok #CleanTok tip involving Fabuloso in a toilet tank: @sheiskd_Tik Tok made me do it ##fabuloso ##fyp ##stimuluscheck ##tax ##covidrelief ##foryou ##foryoupage♬ original sound – allierockk The
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Millennials Hold 4.8% of All Wealth, At the Same Age, Gen X Had 9% of Wealth, Boomers Had 21%’
In May 2021, Seattle business owner Dan Price tweeted about Millennials share of wealth (purportedly 4.8 percent) versus that of Generation X (Gen X, 9 percent), and Baby Boomers (21 percent) “at the same age”: Millennials hold 4.8% of al
Truth or Fiction?→ Gas Shortage Hummer Fire
Amid gas shortage rumors on May 13 2021, a post appearing to show the aftermath of a whole series of bad decisions (“Idiot in Hummer filled 5 gas cans expecting shortages. Put them in his car and lit up a cigarette. Hummer destroyed. Swipe to see
Truth or Fiction?→ Jersey Mike’s ‘How Do You Top Your Sub,’ ‘Blocked Blocked Blocked, None of You Are Free From Sin’ Tweets
On May 12 2021, an Imgur post purportedly showed two tweets from all the way back in June 2014 by chain restaurant Jersey Mike’s (@jerseymikes), the first asking “how do you top your sub?”, and the second beginning, “blocked .bl
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Three Thousand Year Old Statue Found in Cappadocia’
On April 26 2021, a Facebook user shared an image of a purported “three thousand year old statue found in Cappadocia,” in a post consisting of an image and words — but no additional information. Facebook accounts set to English by def
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Hello, I’m a Dandelion’
A Dutch Facebook user’s cheery gardening post blossomed into a long-form text meme on the platform, as English-speaking users shared a translation celebrating dandelions. Paula Kok – Den Boer first posted “Hello, I am a dandelion̶
Truth or Fiction?→ Gas Shortage ‘Couple in Alabama’ Posts
On May 10 2021, rumors of an imminent gas shortage spread everywhere, followed immediately by a photograph purportedly showing a couple “stocking up” on gas to get ahead of the situation. The image was absolutely everywhere, with at least t
Truth or Fiction?→ CTV Calgary Chris Watts Stock Image
On May 5 2021, posts on Facebook and Twitter suggested that CTV Calgary had featured an image of Chris Watts and the Watts family in a segment about family finances; Chris Watts was convicted of murdering his wife and children in 2018: That Facebook p
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘There Is No Such Thing as a Blue State, Only Blue Cities’ Tweet
In early May 2021, a tweet showing a map of the United States swathed in mostly red with a scattering of blue appeared, and it quickly went viral: The text that accompanied the image, from an account going by @TABYTCHI, said: There is no such thing a
Truth or Fiction?→ Is There a Gas Shortage in 2021?
In May 2021, rumors of a gas shortage throughout the United States — either ongoing or imminent — suddenly appeared, spreading both on social media and by word of mouth: This gas shortage isn’t a big deal!! Just hackers from another co
Truth or Fiction?→ Piute Reservoir ‘Fake Town in Utah … Like Truman Show Fake’
On May 3 2021, one of several identical posts were shared to Imgur about an anonymous user’s discovery of a “fake town” in Utah; the first iteration (from u/AlexeyMalykhin) was titled “Spooky Pasta”: Spooky pasta That pa
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Traffic Reporter Meltdown on Live Television’
On May 5 2021, video of purported traffic reporter Anavid Reyes “having a meltdown” on live television appeared on Reddit’s r/funny: This traffic reporter has a meltdown and show how ridiculous his job really is. from
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dollar General Workers Quit and Call for a General Strike?
A call to action by a trio of former Dollar General employees in Maine went viral after they announced their resignations on Twitter. Berndt Erikson’s first posted aa photograph declaring the group’s intent on May 3 2021. “Got real ti
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Senegal Pink Lake’
An April 29 2021 tweet (reading only “Senegal pink lake”) was popular on and off Twitter, for obvious reasons: Senegal pink lake pic.twitter.com/yfyyezdUF1 — Andonia (@andohood) April 29, 2021 In addition to the three-word caption,
Truth or Fiction?→ Agriculture Workers Are Killed on the Job at a Higher Rate Than Cops,’ ‘They Make about a Third as Much Money’
In April 2021, a popular tweet contained the claim that agricultural workers were likelier to die on the job than law enforcement officers, adding that farm labor also generally pays far less: Reminder that agriculture workers are killed on the job
Truth or Fiction?→ Sigmund Freud: ‘ …I Ascribe to the Cocaine’ Quote
In a May 2021 Imgur post (titled “Freudian Marching Powder”), a screenshot of a tweet purportedly quoted Sigmund Freud as saying of a lecture that he “ascribed to the cocaine” his ability to enrapture the audience: Undated and