A ‘Homemade Baby Formula’ Recipe from 1960 is Viral — and Dangerous
A worsening baby formula shortage led to viral posts advising the use of emergency homemade baby formula, but the rapidly spreading recipe could harm babies.
bad advice
Grapefruit Antidepressants Overdose Warning
A December 2021 viral Facebook post warned that eating grapefruit while on antidepressants can cause a fatal overdose.
Is Dawn Hand Soap or Dish Soap?
Facebook’s promoted Reels included a video claiming that Dawn dish soap is actually hand soap, a “big if true” claim apparently circulated to promote a multi-level marketing scam.
‘PSA, If You’re Ever Lost While Hiking … Change Your Voicemail’
Dueling viral posts debated the best way to make use of a waning battery and low signal for people lost in the wilderness.
Banana Peel Water for Plants
A viral Facebook post advised the use of “banana peel water” or “banana peel tea” to grow impressively robust plants.
‘Fabuloso in Toilet Tank’ TikTok Hack
The prospect of Fabuloso scenting your toilet tank is alluring, but a viral CleanTok hack has been the subject of debate over whether it’s septic safe or bad for seals and gaskets.
@KaitMarieox ‘Might Just Start Wearing A Mask Again … Wouldn’t Want To Give Off The Impression That I’m A Vaccinated Democrat’ Tweet
Screenshots of a tweet attributed to Kaitlin Bennett about wearing a mask circulated in screenshots, and suggested the line between satire and reality is increasingly thin.
‘Please DO NOT Offer Yarn, String or Human Hair for Birds to Build Nests!’
A popular Facebook post discouraged users from providing scraps of yarn, string, and dryer lint to birds for their nests, citing risks to their safety.
‘Mayonnaise Takes Crayon Off Walls’ Cleaning Hack
Here’s why you probably shouldn’t use condiments to take marks off walls — at least, not without doing some research first.
Clay Pot Candle Heaters: Do They Really Work?
As Texas struggled with atypical winter weather, videos instructing people how to construct a terracotta space heater assembled with candles went viral.