On February 10 2019, NBC managing editor Dafna Linzer shared the following image and caption (subsequently transcribed) on Twitter: The tweet stated that the “stark photo taken this week in Knoxville tells a very different story about the econo
Publication: viral content
Truth or Fiction?→ 1921 Tulsa Race Riot
In February 2019, a meme about the 1921 Tulsa race riot was shared to Facebook, racking up tens of thousands of shares in 24 hours: Above what looked to be an archival photograph of Ku Klux Klan members lining a dirt road, and caption (“History
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Recycled?
On February 12 2019, YouTube star Shane Dawson published his second video in his conspiracy series — called, appropriately, “Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson” — and by far the most popular of its three topics was a claim th
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s State of the Union Outfit Cost Thousands of Dollars?
In February 2019, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was among a number of Democratic women wearing all white ensembles for the president’s State of the Union address, and the New York congresswoman’s outfit in particular inspired a number of me
Truth or Fiction?→ American Sign Language for the Word ‘Abortion’?
Ongoing debate about a January 22 2019 change to abortion law in New York piqued interest in the topic across social media, reviving an old rumor that a long-circulating GIF sbows the American Sign Language translation of the word “abortion.̶
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a 38-Year-Old White Active Duty Naval Officer Assault a Black Middle School Student?
On January 23 2019, a Facebook user shared what appeared to be a screenshot of an unlinked Facebook post, alleging that a man named Jordan Lee Grinnell assaulted an unnamed black middle school student: Above three images (a handcuffed man sitting on s
Truth or Fiction?→ Shocking Video of ‘Abortion Doctor’ Saying He ‘Loves Killing Babies’?
On February 7 2019, Facebook user Marcus Rogers shared a video post captioned: “SHOCKING VIDEO of Abortion Doctor GROWLING and Saying He loves Killing Babies. This is just DISGUSTING [emoji] AND YOU KNOW, they don’t want you to see this one
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Modern Caesarean Sections Invented in Africa?
On February 6 2019, a Facebook post circulated claiming that “modern c-sections” were invented by midwives in Africa. The post had the hashtag #BlackHistoryMonth, and it said in its entirety: Did you that modern C sections were invented by
Truth or Fiction?→ Keanu Reeves Steals a Camera?
On February 6 2019, the Facebook page “Children of the Night” reposted a popular meme purportedly showing an amusing scene: actor Keanu Reeves fleeing paparazzi after stealing a camera from a photographer: Its caption stated: A photo of K
Truth or Fiction?→ Penn State ‘Slut Shaming’ Advertisement?
On February 3 2019, the Facebook page Feminist News shared a screenshot of a tweet to Penn State about their placement of a questionable sexual health advertisement: The tweet’s text read: Per the CDC, college men have (on avg) more than triple
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Alabama Declare Fetuses Are People?
On January 22 2019, New York State’s Reproductive Health Act was signed into law, inflaming people across the United States. Arguments raged on social networks, largely due to misinterpretations of the law and a mistaken belief that it enabled el
Truth or Fiction?→ Snow Walls in Austria?
As temperatures in the Midwest plummeted in January 2019, the following photograph appeared on social media with the caption: “You think we got snow, how about Austria?” No context was provided for the images, and no clues about the locat
Truth or Fiction?→ Are ‘Ankle Scarves’ the New Hot Fashion Trend?
In December 2018, a number of viral news sites began sharing posts about ankle scarves, the purported “hot new trend” in winter footwear. Country Living‘s post admitted it “didn’t know what to say” about ankle scarve
Truth or Fiction?→ Mold in Baby Food Pouches?
On January 31 2019, the Facebook page “Mommin’ Over Everything” shared what appears to be a screenshot of a social media post showing mold purportedly found in Aldi Simply Natural baby food pouches: Another version published on the
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Man Lose His Penis to Frostbite After Urinating Outside During a Cold Snap?
In early February 2019, the Facebook page Sexy Atheists shared a link to an article titled “Chicago Man Loses His Penis To Frostbite After Peeing Outside,” which appeared to report: The bitter cold in Chicago has kept hospitals busy, with
Truth or Fiction?→ Video of Bernie Sanders Shirtless, Singing ‘This Land Is Your Land’ in Russia in 1988?
On January 28 2019, a video of what appeared to be video of a shirtless Bernie Sanders at a dinner party in Russia in 1988 surfaced on Twitter: BREAKING: @SenSanders like you’ve never seen him!! Bernie and Jane on their honeymoon in Russia singing â
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Man Get $20,000 of Surgery to Look Like Jesus Christ?
In late January 2019, an article appearing to report that a man spent $20,000 on surgery to look more like Jesus Christ began circulating on Facebook: A 30-year old man from Kentucky underwent some radical plastic surgery in order to physically resemb
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Ariana Grande’s ‘Seven Rings’ Tattoo Actually Mean ‘Charcoal Grill’ in Japanese?
On January 30 2019, entertainment outlets began reporting that singer Ariana Grande showed off a Japanese character tattoo she believed translated to “seven rings” — and the publicity revealed that the ink actually said “charcoal g
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Media Ignore a Devastating Tornado in Cuba?
On January 28 2019, a Facebook user shared the following image set and claim (automatically translated) about a purported and unreported tornado that caused widespread devastation in Cuba: Last night a tornado destroyed everything in its path in Havana
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Photo of Nancy Pelosi and George Soros’s Son?
In January 2019, a Facebook user shared the following image, purportedly showing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi alongside George Soros’s son: The title and text surrounding the image, which is apparently a screenshot of an October 2018 blog post, cl
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Bread Bad for Ducks?
In January 2019, the Facebook page “Wild at Heart Rescue” shared the following illustration while claiming that it is dangerous — even potentially lethal — to feed bread to ducks: The drawings depicted waterfowl and the text said: Plea
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Tweets by Jacob Wohl and Jack Posobiec About ‘Impeaching’ Barack Obama Real?
In late January 2019, tweets attributed to far-right “influencers” Jack Posobiec and Jacob Wohl on the subject of impeaching former President Barack Obama circulated on social media in screenshot form: The image looked like a screengrab fr
Truth or Fiction?→ Is a Photograph of Roger Stone Holding a ‘Hillary for Prison’ Shirt Real?
After political operative Roger Stone was arrested on January 25 2019, a photograph in which he appeared to proudly display a shirt bearing the slogan “Hillary for Prison” began circulating on social media: As in the example above, the ima
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Photograph of Roger Stone’s Neighbor Gleefully Watching the FBI Raid of His Home?
On January 25 2019, the Facebook page “Make ‘Murica Great Again” shared the following photograph of a smiling woman clad in a fur coat and drinking wine, purportedly a neighbor of Roger Stone toasting his arrest during a raid by Feder
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Mother Arrested After Leaving Kids in the Car for Nine Hours at a Buffet?
A September 2018 World News Daily Report item titled “Mother arrested for leaving children in the car for 9 hours while at all-you-can-eat buffet” circulates regularly on Facebook. The story has a mugshot that purports to show the mother in
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Photograph Show the 2019 ‘March for Life’?
On January 20 2019, a Facebook user shared the following photograph and caption: Estimated 650,000 MARCH FOR LIFE IN D.C.! So thankful that we are seeing so many stand up for the innocent babies being killed every day in this nation. Over 2500 babies a
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Portraits Depict Agnès Sorel in the 1400s Exposing Her ‘Favorite Boob’?
In January 2019, screenshots of the following Twitter claim about Agnès Sorel, lover to King Charles VII of France, began circulating on Facebook: The tweet said: “Women in the past were modest and had more respect for themselves.” Here&#
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a School Use a Creative Black and White Floor to Keep Students from Running in Halls?
In January 2019, the Facebook page “Student Teacher Problems” shared the following image and caption: How the Art Teacher prevented students from running down the hallway The Facebook post did not contain any citation or other elements tha
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Picture of Covington Catholic Students in Blackface Harassing a Basketball Player?
During an uproar following a viral video of Covington Catholic students surrounding a Native American man at the National Mall on January 19 2019, allegations surfaced that students from that institution had been photographed in blackface. On January 2
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Facebook Removing Inactive Members from Groups?
In January 2019, various posts appeared in myriad Facebook groups urging users to provide engagement with the post to avoid a purported purge of “inactive members.” Iterations of the same warning spread across Facebook groups of all types:
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Photograph of a Swan Hugging the Veterinarian Who Saved Its Life?
On January 12 2019, a Facebook user added the caption “The Swan embracing the veterinarian, who saved his life” to the photo below: Part of the image’s appeal seemed to be a long-circulating myth that swans are inherently dangerous a
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Marie Kondo Tell People They Could Only Keep Thirty Books at a Time?
After Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo debuted in January 2019, social media lit up with takes lambasting Kondo’s supposedly draconian position on the possession of books: Wait Marie Kondo is telling people to toss their books? THEIR
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis Say that ‘Pantyhose Wearing’ Politicians’ Gun Laws Angered Him?
In January 2019, Facebook page “The Original American Resistance” shared a meme attributing a quote to former United States Secretary of Defense James “Mad Dog” Mattis: The quote at the bottom of the image said: WHAT PISSES ME
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence Call White House Fast Food a ‘Perfect Blue Collar’ Party?
In mid-January 2019, after United States President Donald Trump served visiting Clemson football players fast food in an understaffed White House during a record-breaking, ongoing government shutdown, a meme emerged with a purported quote from attendee
Truth or Fiction?→ Chef Boyardee Bugs Video
On January 6, 2019, a Facebook user shared a video of purported bugs and insect pieces she found in a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli purchased the previous night at a Walmart in Enterprise, Alabama. In the clip, the user dissects a number of raviolis nex
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Raised Dots on a Steering Wheel Braille for Blind Drivers?
In January 2019, the Facebook page “Adult Imaginations” shared an old meme claiming that steering wheels feature raised dots in braille for blind or visually impaired drivers: The image shows raised dots on the center of a steering wheel,
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Photograph of Wedding Bands Removed by Nazis in Concentration Camps?
In December 2017, the Facebook page “Historical Pictures” shared the following image: A caption read: Wedding bands that were removed from Holocaust victims prior to being executed, 1945. Each ring represents a destroyed family. Never forg
Truth or Fiction?→ Can You Now Be Fined $999 for Holding a Phone in Your Car?
On January 7 2019, the following status update appeared on social media and quickly went viral: Caught using cell phone, or holding it while driving- $999 fine and 3 yr suspended license as of Jan.2019! Ouch…be aware folks!! No specific jurisdi
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Woman Shoot Off a Motorist’s Middle Finger in a Utah Road Rage Incident?
On January 8, 2019, the Facebook page “Weird Facts” shared the following image claim without further information: The image showed a four-lane motorway, and the text read: A man flipped off a woman while entering a Utah Freeway, and proce
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Grandma Want You to Share Her Photo to Mark Her 100th Birthday?
On January 7, 2019, the Facebook page “Animals & Nature” shared a seemingly wholesome plea on the part of the purported poster’s 100-year-old grandma: Alongside the purported centenarian’s image, a caption pleaded: Today’