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
Publication: viral content
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?→ ‘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?→ 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?→ 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?→ 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?→ 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?→ 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?→ 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?→ Did Congress Declare the Bible the ‘Word of God’?
On April 30 2019, the following post appeared (archived here) claiming Congress declared the Bible the “Word of God” via an October 1982 law, and promptly went viral. It shows an image of yellowed paper that appears to be an official de
Truth or Fiction?→ Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala Dress, Photoshop Edition
Kim Kardashian West’s ensemble for the May 6 2019 Met Gala ball in New York made headlines for its film-inspired “wet” look, ruching, and extreme corseting, drawing the attention of fashion reporters and blogs even amid the campiness
Truth or Fiction?→ Delta Union-Busting ‘Video Games’ Poster
On May 9 2019, a poster attributed to Delta Airlines apparently urging workers to forgo union dues in favor of purchasing video gaming consoles circulated on Facebook and Twitter: lol fuck off @Delta pic.twitter.com/fMNOeW9uFG — Eoin Higgins (@
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Video of Lyanna Mormont/Bella Ramsey Breakdancing?
On May 4 2019, Barstool Sports shared the following clip on Twitter and Facebook, both captioned “Lady Mormont has the god damn MOVES”: Lady Mormont has the god damn MOVES pic.twitter.com/8InLOtxpUl — Barstool Sports (@barstoolspor
Truth or Fiction?→ Can You Grow ‘Tiffany Blue Roses’ from Seeds?
On May 5 2019, the Facebook page “Crafty Morning” shared a photograph of and affiliate link to purported “Tiffany Blue” roses (archived here), urging page fans to click through and purchase seeds to grow the stunning flowers:
Truth or Fiction?→ Can Twins Have Different Fathers?
On May 4 2019, the Facebook page “Facts that will blow your mind” shared the following meme about the ability of women to “get pregnant while already pregnant”: Text superimposed on an image of a pregnant woman read: Not on
Truth or Fiction?→ Do the Colors You See in a Photograph Reveal Left or Right Brain Dominance?
On May 3 2019, @CNYcentral shared the following tweet featuring a photograph of a shoe with a claim that the colors in which it appeared to render revealed whether a reader is either “left-brained” or “right-brained”: WHAT COL
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Chicago Police Urinate on Food for a Black Panthers Free Breakfast Program in 1969?
On April 29 2019, a researcher shared the following tweet showing a screenshot of text reporting that in 1969, police in Chicago had urinated on food and supplies gathered by the Black Panthers for a free breakfast program: Holy shit – I’m r
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Atlanta Urging People ‘Not to Dump Trash on White Supremacists’ Lawns’?
On April 29 2019, an image of a purported notice from the City of Atlanta urging residents “not to” dump trash on white supremacists’ lawns went viral: yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Truth or Fiction?→ Breast Milk Ducts
On April 21 2019 a Twitter user tweeted the following image, purportedly a photograph of muscles and milk ducts in breasts: I just realized I never saw a photo of a female muscle system. This is NOT what I imagined milk ducts to look like. pic.twitte
Truth or Fiction?→ Cyclone Idai Flooding
On April 15 2019, a Facebook user shared images and a status update (archived here) about purported deadly flooding in Mozambique after a huge cyclone ripped through southeastern Africa: The text shared with the photographs said: Did yall know tha
Truth or Fiction?→ Christian Life International Softball Shirt Design
In April 2019, the following image started to make the rounds on Imgur, with the original poster claiming in the caption that “the elders at my brother-in-law’s church” (Christian Life International, or CLI) unwittingly produced a lewd
Truth or Fiction?→ Alfred Hitchcock: ‘A Cure for Fascism’?
An August 2018 meme purportedly quoting Alfred Hitchcock on a “cure for fascism” (archived here) remains popular on Facebook. A description that often appears with the meme suggests that Hitchcock’s “fascism” message occu
Truth or Fiction?→ Dandelion Facts
On April 16 2019, the Facebook page “Veggie Soul” shared a popular meme (archived here), containing several purported facts about the plant: The text, which was accompanied by an image of dandelions, stated: Dandelion Facts: Dandelions
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Black WWI Veterans in Uniform Lynched During the Red Summer of 1919?
In February 2019, the following image appeared (archived here), with the description “victorious black soldiers returning to the U.S. from World War I are lynched while still in uniform.” An attached image showed a black man being dragge
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘They Pushed Her’ Facebook Post
On April 17 2019, a Facebook post (archived here) began circulating, purporting to tell the tragic story (“they pushed her”) of a young girl named Carmen Winstead, as well as the fates of the classmates responsible for her death: They push
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This Image Yellow Hat Firefighters Protesting in Spain?
On March 31 2019, an image (archived here) went viral on social media purportedly showing a “yellow hat” firefighter protest in Spain. Under an image of several men wearing only yellow hats and boots was a caption: Forget the yellow vests
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Dell Hospital Collecting Donations for a Young Assault Victim Named Maria?
A February 2016 Facebook post about Dell Children’s Hospital and a purported young rape victim (archived here) continued circulating several years after the fact. The post and its variations featured roughly the same all-caps text, with rotating
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Dell Hospital Collecting Donations for a Young Assault Victim Named Maria?
A February 2016 Facebook post about Dell Children’s Hospital and a purported young rape victim (archived here) continued circulating several years after the fact. The post and its variations featured roughly the same all-caps text, with rotating
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Flint Still Not Have Clean Water?
In April 2019, a July 2017 text-based status update (archived here) about a lack of clean water in Flint, Michigan continued making the rounds on social media. Across a blue sky background, white text read as follows: 1188 days still no clean water fo
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Flint Still Not Have Clean Water?
In April 2019, a July 2017 text-based status update (archived here) about a lack of clean water in Flint, Michigan continued making the rounds on social media. Across a blue sky background, white text read as follows: 1188 days still no clean water fo
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Sequencing Fish Samples’ Viral Twitter Thread
On April 6 2019, a screenshots (archived here) of a Twitter thread originally published by @AwesomeBioTA one day prior went viral on social media: In the original thread, the poster (@AwesomeBioTA) recounted the purported results of her class̵
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Sequencing Fish Samples’ Viral Twitter Thread
On April 6 2019, a screenshots (archived here) of a Twitter thread originally published by @AwesomeBioTA one day prior went viral on social media: In the original thread, the poster (@AwesomeBioTA) recounted the purported results of her class̵
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This an Actual Photograph of a Black Hole?
On April 10 2019 the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) captured the first image of a black hole in history, making worldwide headlines: This is what a black hole looks like. A world-spanning network of telescopes called the Event Horizon Telescope zoomed
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Free Birth Control in Colorado Drop Unplanned Pregnancies by 40 Percent?
On March 31 2019, a Facebook user shared a meme (archived here) about the purported effects of “free birth control” in the state of Colorado: Across an image of mountain scenery, the meme (watermarked by The Other 98%) read: COLORADO HA
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Fentanyl-Laced Marijuana Smell Like Popcorn?
On April 4 2019, the following warning appeared (archived here), containing the claim that marijuana smokers can detect fentanyl contamination by smell: In addition to its primary claim (that fentanyl-laced weed smells like popcorn), the post cont
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Fentanyl-Laced Marijuana Smell Like Popcorn?
On April 4 2019, the following warning appeared (archived here), containing the claim that marijuana smokers can detect fentanyl contamination by smell: In addition to its primary claim (that fentanyl-laced weed smells like popcorn), the post cont