California Officials Attempt to Quell Confusion Around Gubernatorial Recall Election
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s tenure in office could end in September 2021.
2021
Goatse Ring
Early 2000s internet users immediately spotted an uncomfortable resemblance to a proto-meme in the form of a suggestive ring.
Robin Williams ‘Penpal’ Story
A screenshot of a person named Kyle’s heartfelt anecdote about being Robin Williams’ penpal spread virally in August 2021 — but the account was then suspended by Reddit.
No, a Study Didn’t Find That ‘the Most Highly-Educated Americans Are Also the Most Vaccine-Hesitant’
A mischaracterization of a pre-print study about “vaccine hesitancy” further advanced anti-vaxxer falsehoods.
Comedian’s Spoof Interview as ‘Flight Attendant’ Spreads Virally on Facebook Watch
Facebook Watch clips can rake in millions of views, which was the case with an RTÉ 2 clip of a phony interview by a YouTube comedian.
Campground Sign ‘Translated for Teenagers’
A pair of campground signs (one translated for “teenagers”) went viral across social media in August 2021.
San Diego Sheriff Admits No Doctor Verified ‘Overdose’ Claim in Viral Video
Medical experts have called on news outlets to correct their reporting on the video.
‘The Starlight Barking’
A whimsical Twitter thread about the purported literary sequel to 101 Dalmatians was popular on Facebook in August 2021.
Ranking of the Most Common Birthdays
A Facebook post purportedly ranked the “most common birthdays.”
4Chan’s /Pol/ Seeks to Sow Discord With #AskMeWhy
Users of /pol/ devised a campaign to hijack vaccination efforts with the hashtag #AskMeWhy.