In mid-July 2020, various iterations of the quote “I don’t know how to explain to you that you should care about other people” circulated, but all were attributed to Dr. Anthony Fauci: When Fauci said: “I Don't Know How To E
Publication: viral content
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the 2005 Film ‘V for Vendetta’ About a Virus — and Set in 2020?
On June 21 2020, the Facebook page “Cosmic Enlightenment” shared the following meme, which claimed that the 2005 film V for Vendetta was about the use of a virus to control populations — and that it was set in the year 2020: &nbs
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Kroger’s ‘Change Shortage’ Fee Being Applied to Credit and Debit Transactions?
On July 14 2020, a Facebook user shared the following screenshot, showing a Kroger receipt, a “change shortage” fee, and a post about how the customer purportedly paid with a credit card or debit card (making the already questionable fee e
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Might Get One of These for the Garden’ Video
On July 9 2020, the Facebook page “Stanton Warriors” shared the following difficult-to-describe video (“might get one of these for the garden”), showing what appeared to be a lone, seated woman getting thrown around by a mechan
Truth or Fiction?→ The #FreeBritney Movement, Explained
In July 10 2020, a Facebook post appeared about the #FreeBritney movement (evidently aimed at liberating Britney Spears), becoming hugely popular within just a few days: The Text of the Post The post — which was lengthy and full of de
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Betsy DeVos Say ‘Only .02 Percent’ of Students Would Die if Schools Reopened?
On July 11 2020, the following tweet claimed that the United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos — in the course of arguing in favor of reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic — asserted that “only 0.02 percent” of
Truth or Fiction?→ Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guards Can’t Drink for Life, Must Live in Underground Barracks?
A popular September 2019 Facebook post about guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier makes a number of claims, among them that anyone serving as a Sentinel “must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dave Ramsey Warn Against a Cashless Society Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
In early July 2020, posts attributed to financial pundit Dave Ramsey on the subject of what “no cash” or what having a “cashless society actually means” began circulating: Dave Ramsey repost HERES WHAT NO CASH ACTUALLY MEANS:
Truth or Fiction?→ Richard Rose Dies of COVID-19, After Repeated ‘COVID Denier’ Posts
On July 10 2020, a number of Facebook users shared posts like the one below — purportedly screenshots from the profile of a user, Richard Rose, who initially adopted the position of a “COVID denier” before dying from it on July 4 202
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘New Cases, Yesterday: Germany: 298, Denmark: 10, Norway: 11, Sweden: 57 — United States: 55,442’
On July 8 2020, Twitter user Brian Klass shared the following post in response to President Trump’s tweets about reopening American schools — purportedly demonstrating the number of new cases on July 7 2020 in the United States and four Eu
Truth or Fiction?→ Why Is the Coronavirus Test So Invasive? Would a Cheek Swab Work?
On July 7 2020, Facebook user David D Smith shared the following post, questioning why coronavirus testing was so invasive, particularly when compared to DNA test cheek swabs: Smith included a shiver-inducing image but no citations, writing:
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Carsyn Davis Die After Attending a ‘COVID Party’?
In early July 2020, news of the death of Florida teenager Carsyn Leigh Davis began spreading on social media — alongside rumors the girl, who was purportedly medically fragile, was intentionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 by her mother: A parent se
Truth or Fiction?→ LAPD ‘14188’ Badge Number Controversy
On July 3 2020, Twitter user Hayes Davenport shared a screenshot of a purported Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) example badge web page, featuring a badge with the number 14188: Unfortunate sample badge number choice in my opinion pic.twitter.co
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Real Listing for an Anti-Semitic Trump Face Mask?
On July 4 2020, Twitter user Justin Stangel shared the following Amazon screenshot, of a “Trump Daily Mouth Face Cover Anti-Dust” mask — and a very swastika-like logo to match: Hey @amazon, you ok selling Donald Trump, antisemitic
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This ‘America First’ Trump 2020 Shirt Real?
On July 1 2020, a number of social media posts shared images of a “Trump 2020, America First” shirt — which they said or implied bore a striking resemblance to a common Nazi symbol: OH COME ON pic.twitter.com/6divzAkVkK — Lux
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘In Case You’re Wondering What Utter, Abject Failure Looks Like’: Are These USA, France, Italy, and Spain COVID-19 Charts?
In late June 2020, a series of four COVID-19 charts began spreading across social media, captioned: “In case you’re wondering what utter, abject failure looks like,” purportedly contrasting COVID-19 infection rates in the United Stat
Truth or Fiction?→ Does ‘Qabalista’ by Selki Girl Trigger ‘Out-of-Body Experiences’?
In late June and early July 2020, a rumor on TikTok’s #witchtok hashtag held that the album Qabalista by Selki Girl “triggered astral projection” or other strange experiences; a video with hundreds of thousands of engagements involve
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘1979 Horoscope, I Am F***ing Begging You to Read This’
Around June 30 2020, posts labeled “1979 horoscope i am fucking begging you to read this” began circulating on Facebook: Twitter: 1979 horoscope i am fucking begging you to read this pic.twitter.com/ta2k3FbQvu — wendy (@friends3000
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Vandals in Spain Call a Nobel Prize Winner a ‘Killer’?
A Spanish culture and history website’s anger over alleged vandalism at the country’s biggest bullfighting stadium gained attention on Twitter in June 2020, but its concern appears to be years too late. The site, Darío Madrid, claimed on
Truth or Fiction?→ The Trump Store’s $88 Baseball
In late June 2020, screenshots of a TrumpStore.com baseball priced at $88 began circulating on Facebook and Twitter: completely normal baseball price, $85 was just too low, but $90 was just too much nothing weird about it pic.twitter.com/UvyunMnsOL
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Landlord Ask a Possible Tenant to Pay a Year’s Worth of Rent in Advance?
A property management company in Asheville, North Carolina became one of several symbols of landlord excess for social media users in June 2020, after a prospective tenant revealed that she was asked to provide a year’s worth rent before moving
Truth or Fiction?→ Viral Post Blames Powdersville Cemetery Vandalism on ‘Black Lives Matter’
On June 14 2020, the Facebook page “The Sharp Truth” shared the following post and lambasted Black Lives Matter activists for purportedly vandalizing the Powdersville Cemetery in Anderson County, South Carolina: The text, which appeare
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Spirit Halloween Announce It Would Not Open Stores in 2020?
Fans of the Spirit Halloween chain of seasonal stores could be reassured about the chance to shop there in 2020, after a YouTube creator apologized for his role in the false rumor spreading online. “This is a great example to not trust you see o
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Ending White Privilege Intersects Ending Jewish Privilege’ Flyer
In June 2020, as protests against ongoing racism and police brutality continued throughout the United States and beyond, a curious image appeared: The image showed a flyer taped to a cork board with text that said: ENDING WHITE PRIVILEGE… Privi
Truth or Fiction?→ Is There a Garden in England Dedicated Solely to Deadly Plants Called the ‘Poison Garden’?
On June 21 2020, the Facebook page “The Runic Witch” shared the following meme, which described a garden in England “dedicated entirely to plants that … can kill you”: At the bottom of the meme was a photograph
Truth or Fiction?→ Columbus Police Accused of Macing Double Amputee, Confiscating His Legs in Graphic Video
On June 21 2020, social media videos appeared to show the aftermath of a confrontation between a man and police in Columbus, Ohio — such as a post in r/Columbus claiming the individual had been maced by police officers: CPD just hit a
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Fireworks Every Night’ in June 2020
On June 20 2020, the Facebook page “Son of Baldwin” shared what would later become a popular iteration of a “fireworks conspiracy” set of rumors, spreading from several points on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit: The Facebook
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Unprofessional Hairstyles for Men or Women’ Versus ‘Professional Hairstyles for Men or Women’ Google Image Results
On June 9 2020, Facebook user Xavier Dillingham shared the following Twitter screenshots, which purportedly showed Google search results for the terms “professional hairstyles men,” “unprofessional hairstyles men,” “p
Truth or Fiction?→ Is ‘Officer McMuffin’ Stacy Talbert a Security Guard, Not Law Enforcement?
After a June 15 2020 Facebook Live video from Stacey Talbert (during which she sobbed over a delayed Egg McMuffin at a Georgia McDonald’s) went viral, a couple of tweets claimed that Talbert was a security guard posing as a police officer: UP
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘This Fool Actually Tattooed Will Smith on His Face’
On May 15 2020, Facebook user Ed Lawson shared the following image, which purportedly depicted a man who had had Will Smith’s face tattooed over his own face: The post was extremely popular, but not every commenter was convinced that t
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Original ‘Aunt Jemima’ Nancy Green Being ‘Erased’ by Political Correctness?
PepsiCo’s June 17 2020 announcement it was retiring the Aunt Jemima brand due to the character’s original “Mammy” connotations led to immediate and extensive complaining on social media, such as a copypasta post accusing bra
Truth or Fiction?→ Have Police in the United States Killed 120 People Since George Floyd’s Death?
On June 14 2020, a Facebook user shared the following post, asserting that police in the United States had killed an additional 120 civilians since the May 25 2020 death of George Floyd: Floyd was killed during an interaction with Minneapoli
Truth or Fiction?→ COVID-19 Risk Levels Chart: Accurate?
As of June 16 2020, chances are that a large number of people saw the following “COVID-19 Risk Levels” chart somewhere on social media — purportedly ranking common activities (as well as some o”pontoon boat rides”) agains
Truth or Fiction?→ Tamla Horsford’s Death Investigation Reopened: ‘This Picture Literally Gives Me the Chills’
On June 14 2020, a Facebook user shared the following post about the death of Tamla Horsford: Viral Posts about Tamla Horsford in June 2020 An appended image of eight women — seven white and one black — was captioned “This picture l
Truth or Fiction?→ Does the NYPD Have a Slave Master With a Whip on Its Logo?
In mid-June 2020, a number of social media posts appeared featuring a close-up image of the New York Police Department (NYPD)’s insignia or badge, with emphasis on what appeared to be a “slave master” or “pilgrim with a whip
Truth or Fiction?→ The Wilmington Massacre
In early June 2020m a screenshot of the following tweet was shared to Facebook; the original tweet asked students in North Carolina to retweet if they hadn’t learned about the “Wilmington Massacre” in history classes: N.C. STUDENT
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘If You See the Baby You Are Part of a Minority Who Can See Paranormal Things’
A June 9 2020 Facebook post featured a grainy, black and white image of a baby at a window — as well as a claim the “minority” of people were unable to see the baby, and that those who did were able to see “paranormal things&#
Truth or Fiction?→ Tucker Carlson’s ‘What Does Racism Look Like?’ Chyron
On June 5 2020, a viral tweet circulated, featuring Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson, a chyron reading “what does racism look like?,” and commentary about becoming your own meme: That moment when you meme yourself. pic.twitter.com/b6sr4kD
Truth or Fiction?→ The Washington Monument Struck by Lightning and the Tower Card
During ongoing protests against police brutality and a lunar eclipse on June 5 2020, numerous posts on Facebook asserted that the Washington Monument had been struck by lightning — many of those claims appearing alongside an image of the “
Truth or Fiction?→ Was an Oregon Police Officer Caught Telling an Armed Man How to Avoid Curfew?
Police in Salem, Oregon blamed officer ignorance for a conversation captured on video on June 1, 2020. The video, first aired live by Joe Smothers on his Facebook account on June 1, 2020, chronicles a local protest against extrajudicial killing as wel