A seven-year-old cluster of news reports got a new lease of life on Facebook in April 2019.
Search Results (13177) for: facebook
FactCheck.org→ A Phantom Ocasio-Cortez Quote on Gun Ownership
Quick Take There is no evidence that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said “owning guns is not a right,” contrary to what a viral meme claims. Full Story Since joining Congress in January, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has used her position
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
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NO Sign Outside Michigan Mosque About "Advancement Of Islamic Agenda For America"
Did a mosque in Dearborn, Michigan put out a sign titled "Advancement Of Islamic Agenda For America"? And below that, did it read: Allah be praised America we will kill you and nothing you can do to stop it Allah be praised ? No, that's not
Truth or Fiction?→ Is USPS Losing Money Because of a 2006 Pension Law?
On April 8 2019, Facebook page “The Other 98%” shared a post (archived here) claiming that the United States Postal Service was mistakenly believed to be losing money thanks to online retailers like Amazon, when in actuality the shortfall
FactCheck.org→ Doctored Quote Tied to Rep. Omar
Quick Take A meme targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar uses an edited quote to cast doubt on her “allegiance” to the United States. Full Story Online falsehoods about Rep. Ilhan Omar are in no short supply. We’ve previously covered deceptive
FactCheck.org→ Meme Distorts Facts on Refugees, Social Security
Quick Take A meme circulating on Facebook gives the false impression that there is no cap on the number of refugees that can be admitted to the U.S., and that Social Security beneficiaries did not receive a cost-of-living increase this year. Full Sto
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?→ Jordan Peele, Tim Burton, Woody Allen, Ridley Scott, and Racism in Casting
On March 31 2019, a Facebook user shared a screenshot (archived here) of a different Facebook post which dissected the purported race-related casting decisions made by Jordan Peele, Tim Burton, Woody Allen, and Ridley Scott: The original post seen
FactCheck.org→ Anti-America Image From Iran, Not Michigan
Quick Take A popular meme wrongly claims that a photo showing protesters advocating the demise of the U.S. was taken in Michigan. The image is from a 2013 rally in Iran. Full Story Facebook users have spread a meme that falsely presents an anti-Ameri
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
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Costco NOT Giving Free $150 Coupon Per family to Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Is Costco giving out free $150 coupons to families to celebrate its 50th Anniversary? No, that's not true: a scam website is luring visitors by promising Costco coupons in exchange for completing surveys but the whole thing is a scam designed
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Sen. Dianne Feinstein Say It’s Unfair That Smaller States Count as Much as California Because of the Electoral College?
On April 4 2019, this meme was posted to a Facebook group (archived here) with a purported quote by Sen. Dianne Feinstein about California and the United States’ electoral college. Text across a photograph of the California Democrat with a sup
FactCheck.org→ Vote for Us
Voting for the 23rd annual Webby Awards is already underway, and we need your help to win another trophy. FactCheck.org again is among the five finalists competing in the category for Websites: News & Politics. The other nominees, which were first
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
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Ocasio-Cortez Did NOT Propose Nationwide Motorcycle Ban
Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez propose a nationwide motorcycle ban? No, that's not true. The story was published by a liberal satire website that tries to educate gullible Trump supporters and Republicans about the need to actually click and rea
Truth or Fiction?→ Were 2019’s First Three House Bills for Impeachment, an Electoral College Ban, and Foreign Aid?
On April 7 2019 the Facebook page “ForAmerica” shared the following meme (archived here), purportedly describing Democrats’ first three House bills in 2019: Atop a photograph of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Rep. Nancy Pelos
Truth or Fiction?→ Does ‘Strange Planet’ Creator Nathan W. Pyle Oppose Abortion?
In March 2019, a webcomic known as “Strange Planet” began dominating Facebook’s feed (as well as Instagram and Twitter), and in April 2019, rumors began circulating about creator Nathan W. Pyle’s purported anti-abortion positio
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Pat Robertson Claim He Had a Vision of Jesus with an AK-47 in Camo, Signaling the Second Coming?
In April 2019, a story spread on social media about a purported vision experienced by televangelist Pat Robertson regarding Jesus’ return — complete with an AK-47 and camo clothing: Linked here was an April 6 2019 item from The Business Sta
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Franklin Graham Say Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Has a ‘Satanic Background’?
In February 2019, an article from Business Standard News (BS News) contained the claim that evangelist Franklin Graham accused Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of coming from a “Satanic background”: We can’t go a day without some right-wi
Truth or Fiction?→ Should Anglers Beware of Snakes Hiding Inside Fish?
A September 2015 warning shared by the official-sounding Northwestern PA Sportsmen Facebook page (archived here) seems to make the rounds on social media in perpetuity: Beneath a photograph of what appears to be a snake inside the mouth of a large
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Courts Did NOT Quietly Confirm MMR Vaccine Causes Autism
Did courts "quietly confirm" that the MMR vaccine, which protects children against measles, mumps, and rubella, causes autism? No, that's not true: Court cases cited in articles falsely making the claim concluded with damage awards for encepha
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Elizabeth Warren Did NOT Say ‘If Women Need To Be Raped By Muslims To Prove Our Tolerance, So Be It’
Did U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren say "If women need to be raped by Muslims to prove our tolerance, so be it. Then, thank goodness for Planned Parenthood"? No, that's not true: It a fake quote included in a meme that has been circulating on so
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ayanna Pressley Did NOT Pose In Front Of Picture Of Osama Bin Laden And ISIS Flag
Did Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley pose for a photo in front of a photo of Osama Bin Laden and an ISIS flag? No, that's not true: A photo taken of the four freshmen members of congr
FactCheck.org→ Old Decision in Tax Lawsuit Gets New Spin
Quick Take A website known for spreading misinformation writes that a man who cited religious reasons for not paying his income taxes “has won an historic lawsuit against the IRS.” That’s misleading. One charge was dropped, but four o
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Pope Francis Did NOT Compare Christians To Fungus
Did Pope Francis compare Christians to a fungus during an address in Morocco? No, that's not true: The speech quoted in misleading stories included the pope quoting a biblical passage in which Jesus responds to a question about the nature of t
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Forget to Vote for Her Own Green New Deal?
On March 29 2019 a Facebook page shared the following meme (archived here), asserting that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez failed to vote for her own bill (the “Green New Deal“): Across a photograph of Ocasio-Cortez (with a pejorative ter
Truth or Fiction?→ Do High Percentages of Refugees Receive Food Stamps, ‘Medicard,’ and Cash Welfare?
In late March 2019, the following meme (archived here) appeared, making three separate and warmed-over claims about “refugees” in the United States and opining, “cut them off”: The Meme The image-based meme provided no citation
Truth or Fiction?→ Does an Image Show ‘Worthless’ Money in the Gutter in Venezuela?
On March 22 2019, a Facebook user shared the following post (archived here), purportedly showing unfathomable amounts of money discarded in a gutter in Venezuela. A caption said: This is a street in Venezuela. That’s money in the gutter. It̵
FactCheck.org→ Concocted Claim of McCain’s ‘Treason’
Quick Take A falsehood resurrected on Facebook claims that the late Sen. John McCain received a pardon from President Richard Nixon. He did not. Full Story When Sen. John McCain died last year, he was widely praised by military officials for his ser
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a New Netflix Show Aim to Transform Boys into ‘Sexy’ Little Girls?
In late March and early April 2019 an Instagram screenshot circulated on Facebook, asserting a “new Netflix show” aimed to transform boys into “sexy little girls.” The earlier iteration circulating in March appeared to have bee
Lead Stories→ Fake News: JetBlue Airlines Is NOT Celebrating Their 20th Birthday By Providing 2 Free Tickets To All
Did JetBlue AIrlines celebrate its 20th birthday by providing two free tickets to everyone? No, that's not true: It is a click bait scam that could result in your computer and person data being compromised, and it certainly will not result in
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Alaska Airline is NOT Celebrating Their 87th Anniversary by Gifting 2 Free Tickets to Everyone
Is Alaska Airline giving 2 free tickets to everyond for their 87th anniversary? No, that's not true: a scam site is trying to steal people's personal information by pretending to take a survey in exchange for free airline tickets and then send
Lead Stories→ Fake News: The American Civil War Did NOT Start Because Of The Morrill Tariff Act And Slavery WAS The Main Factor
Did the American Civil War start because southern states were angry because of the Morrill tariff enacted by President Abraham LIncoln and not because of a fight to preserve the institition of slavery? No, that's not true: The Morrill tariff w