‘Don’t Abbreviate 2020’ Warning
A meme that warns people not to abbreviate “2020” is being regurgitated by police and framed as a “legal warning.” Sounds like an urban legend to us.
Fact Checks
Iranians, Iranian-Americans Stopped at U.S. Border with Canada
One woman said a border agent asked her parents, “Did you immigrate, or are you a refugee?”
‘Missing’ Hiker Emoji Mandela Effect
Do you recall an emoji of a hiker with a walking stick or sticks? Apparently it never existed, but others remember it too.
Aboriginal Flag on the Right, Australia Burning on the Left
Several versions of a comparison between the Australian Aboriginal flag and a photograph of Australia’s night sky while bushfires raged spread on social media in December 2019 and January 2020.
Fake Fox News Twitter Smears Rep. Ilhan Omar
A short-lived disinformation account drew attention by falsely accusing the congresswoman of trying to incite violence.
Best Buy ‘Y2K’ Sticker
As social media users rang in 2020, a purported throwback for the anticipated Y2K crisis from Best Buy went viral.
‘I Did Not Take This Photo and I Don’t Know Who Did’ Australian Community Firefighters Image
In the wake of deadly and devastating fires in Australia in December 2019 and January 2020, a miscaptioned photograph showing firefighters from California circulated with prayer requests.
‘Weird Twitter’ Account Spreads Video Distorting Joe Biden Campaign Speech
The eighteen-second clip was taken out of context from the Democratic Party presidential candidate’s remarks on violence against women.
‘Blue Eyes Are Haram’ Disinformation
False stories using the same reappropriated photograph of a child who was mauled by a dog in 2008 are appearing — for at least the fifth year in a row.
Are Drive-Thru Convenience Stores Only Located in Ohio?
A popular Facebook post underestimated the success of chains like Farm Stores.