‘NyQuil Chicken Challenge,’ Explained
In September 2022, the FDA warned against “NyQuil chicken,” purportedly due to a TikTok “challenge” or “trend.”
fake trends
TikTok and Pastor Greg Locke IRS Controversy
Labeling a claim as a “new” TikTok trend helps it go viral, as was the case with a claim involving IRS tax-exempt statuses for churches.
‘Squirrel Teeth’ Fashion Trend
Creative looks on Instagram and Facebook are often reframed as a novel “fashion trend,” regardless of how plausible “squirrel teeth” might be.
‘He’s 18’: Twitter Trending Topics Amplifies Quaden Bayles Conspiracy Theory
Twitter had “He’s 18” as a trending topic on February 21 2020, amplifying baseless conspiracies that bullied Australian boy Quaden Bayles was older than nine.
Is ‘Peppa Pig’ Giving American Kids British Accents?
In early February 2019, a number of outlets began reporting on the “Peppa effect,” a purported trend causing American preschoolers who watched the show to speak in British accents. The claims were virtually guaranteed to achieve viral traction, probably owing to the number of parents across the United States whose young children watched the often …
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