Kaitlin Bennett ‘WAP’ Tweet
Discourse around a purported tweet from the right-wing activist about the song WAP and her “white American privilege” included later claims that screenshots of her statements were parodies.
viral facebook posts
Walmart ‘Going Plastic Bag Free’ Giveaway Posts
Clumsily edited images were an initial clue that the Walmart giveaway posts were not the real thing.
‘The Cost of a Standard Unit of Insulin’
A Facebook post and tweet by Sen. Bernie Sanders in March 2021 purportedly compared the costs of a “standard unit of insulin” both within and outside the United States.
‘Coffee with Cotton Candy’ Facebook Post
A viral Facebook post purportedly shows a cup of coffee with a cotton candy “cloud,” which “rains” sugar from the drink’s steam.
‘Imagine Living in This Apartment Complex in Hong Kong’
A March 2021 Facebook post purportedly showing an apartment complex in Hong Kong went viral — and served as a source of partisan bickering.
PragerU ‘Racism = Bad’ Graphic
A viral screenshot depicted a purported PragerU graphic reading “LEFTIST LOGIC: Racism = Bad.”
$1400 ‘Stimmy’ Per Adult and Child, $250 or $300 a Month Per Child?
“Stimmy” trended on Twitter after U.S. President Joe Biden signed off on third stimulus checks.
‘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.
‘Witches Stairs’
A long-circulating image of unusual stairs went viral when paired with a backstory about “witches stairs.”
Former Lowe’s Employee Jayjuan Young Says He Was Fired Over 37 Cents
Young’s Facebook post about his devotion to Lowe’s and the circumstances of his termination caused social media outcry.