Fact Checks – Page 212 – Truth or Fiction?

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Is a 1989 ‘U.N. Predicts Disaster if Global Warming Not Checked’ Article Authentic?

Fact Checks, Viral Content / By Kim LaCapria / May 21, 2019

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 screenshot, text from an unlinked Associated Press article’s headline and first sentence was visible (with indicated emphasis), reading: U.N. Predicts Disaster if …

Is a 1989 ‘U.N. Predicts Disaster if Global Warming Not Checked’ Article Authentic? Read More »

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Are New Abortion Laws in Alabama and Ohio Defined as ‘Forced Pregnancy’ under UN Genocide Conventions?

Fact Checks, Politics / By Kim LaCapria / May 20, 2019

On May 17 2019, a Facebook user shared one of several social media claims that controversial new near-total abortion bans in Alabama, Ohio, and Georgia constituted “forced pregnancy” under United Nations (UN) regulations governing the definition and handling of genocide and genocidal acts. The post (archived here) included a screenshot from the United Nations Office …

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Did a Man Have a Heart Attack After His Wife Faked His Lover’s Head in the Fridge?

Fact Checks, Viral Content / By Kim LaCapria / May 20, 2019

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 mistress in the refrigerator he shared with his extremely disgruntled wife: A caption at the …

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Nancy Pelosi and the ‘Wrap-Up Smear’

Disinformation, Fact Checks / By Kim LaCapria / May 17, 2019

An October 2018 Turning Point USA Facebook video featured a brief clip of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking, purportedly explaining the manner in which Democrats use a “wrap up smear” tactic against Republicans. At the time the clip appeared, controversy was raging over the appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. All-caps text at the top of …

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Is Joel Osteen Ministries Charging Facebook Commenters for ‘Prayer Requests’?

Fact Checks, Viral Content / By Kim LaCapria / May 15, 2019

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 response, it appeared that the Facebook page for Joel Osteen Ministries replied: Unfortunately, your Joel Osteen prayer request account has …

Is Joel Osteen Ministries Charging Facebook Commenters for ‘Prayer Requests’? Read More »

Could Alabama Women Be Jailed for 99 Years Under a New Abortion Law?

Fact Checks, Politics / By Kim LaCapria / May 15, 2019

On May 14 2019, the state of Alabama’s legislature passed an extremely restrictive law banning nearly all abortions, and social media posts suggested women faced 99 years in prison for obtaining an abortion under its provisions. The claim appeared on Twitter: Additionally, a Facebook user shared a lengthy status update about the law (archived here), …

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Does the Alabama Abortion Ban Have a ‘False Rape’ Reporting Clause?

Fact Checks, Politics / By Kim LaCapria / May 15, 2019

Four days before the Alabama Senate voted to pass a near-total ban on abortion in Alabama, a Facebook screenshot by act.tv of two tweets (archived here) claimed that the legislation included a clause enabling imprisoning those reporting rapes in the state if the accused was not found guilty: A tweet at the bottom by Adam Savage …

Does the Alabama Abortion Ban Have a ‘False Rape’ Reporting Clause? Read More »

Are ‘Cow Fart Bags’ Being Used to Fight Climate Change?

Animals, Disinformation, Fact Checks / By Kim LaCapria / May 14, 2019

On May 14 2019, a Facebook user shared the following post (archived here), purporting to show “cow fart bags” advocated as a climate change solution by “fringe leftists”: It was almost as if a post lamenting that “you can’t make this stuff up” was a clue that the poster had indeed made that stuff up. …

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Is Facebook Donating $1 for Every Share Towards a Puppy’s Tumor?

Disinformation, Fact Checks / By Kim LaCapria / May 14, 2019

On May 10 2019, the Facebook page “Therapy Dogs Give Love” shared the following image and plea (archived here), claiming Facebook was donating $1 for every share of an image of a puppy with a “tumor”: Alongside an image of a black dog with an avocado in its mouth, the page wrote: For every time …

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Did Congress Declare the Bible the ‘Word of God’?

Fact Checks, Viral Content / By Kim LaCapria / May 14, 2019

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 declaration from Congress, and above labeling for “Public Law 97-280,” a title reads: CONGRESS DECLARES …

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