Exploring Internet Nonsense
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A post claimed that in order to avoid going to “Facebook jail” a user can go to their settings and block the ‘Community Standards’ Facebook page. FALSE An example of the claim is below. For those of you that are constantly in Facebook jail like myself here is a way you can avoid that. Go […]
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A rumour claims that video conferencing app Zoom has a feature that allows teachers to secretly unmute students in order to hear what they are saying. FALSE The rumour, which has been spreading on social media sites such as TikTok, claims that teachers can unmute students, while from the student’s perspective they still appear to […]
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A message spreading on Facebook urges readers to copy the same message to their own timeline using copy & paste in order to “upgrade” their Facebook to reduce sales ad posts on their newsfeed. The message claims as a result the user will see more posts from friends appearing on their newsfeed instead. FALSE An […]
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Last updated on February 2nd, 2021A message claims that since a recent update, Facebook has a new feature called “Off Facebook Activity” that can, amongst other things, track your bank accounts, emails and apps. The message then goes on to implore readers to disable the feature. MOSTLY FALSE An example of the message can be […]
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Last updated on February 4th, 2021A rumour claims the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) removed the assertion that vaccines do not cause autism from its website after legal pressure from ICAN (Informed Consent Action Network. FALSE ICAN, an anti-vaccination group within the United States, wrote on its website and in an email that […]
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Last updated on February 11th, 2021Rumours claim that the military is conducting a covert operation off the Californian coast a day before the inauguration of Joe Biden. FALSE The video on Twitter is below. What's happening off the coast of California? pic.twitter.com/XWy2Eb52L7 — Tequila Mockingbird (@Teqmock) January 19, 2021 The rumours are based on a […]
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A bizarre conspiracy circulating on social media claims that a military operation will occur within the United States on inauguration day that will see President Elect Joe Biden arrested. Such claims assert that the operation will begin when General Hyten orders it so from his Telegram account. FALSE A number of intertwined conspiracies circulating on […]
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An article trending on social media claims that the Biden inauguration has been cancelled and that Trump will remain in office after invoking martial law. The article also claims most mainstream media outlets inside the US will lose their licences. FALSE Only days before Biden’s inauguration, many social media accounts known for promoting QAnon themed […]
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Amid current political events at the beginning of 2021, rumours are circulating through social media that claim a US president that is either impeached twice or impeached and then convicted is consequently unable to run for president for a second term, or hold office ever again. FALSE The rumours are spreading amid the news that […]
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Rumours on social media claim the TV animated series The Simpsons predicted a man dressed as a Viking would appear on Capitol Hill as a protestor. FALSE An example on social media can be seen below. The apparently supernatural-like prognostication properties of The Simpsons have been put to the test once again online, and once […]
