Case Studies of Viral Fake News

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What was claimed about Pope Francis in a viral fake news story during the 2016 U.S. presidential election?
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Pope Francis was falsely claimed to have endorsed Donald Trump for president. (False)
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A viral story claimed that a gorilla named Harambe received thousands of write-in votes in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Was this true?
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It was false. The story was a fabrication with no basis in reality. (False)
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In 2018, was there a viral story claiming that Microsoft was paying people to use their web browser?
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Yes, there was a fake news story that claimed Microsoft was paying people to use Edge. This was not true. (False)
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Did viral fake news claim that inhaling steam could prevent COVID-19 infection in 2020?
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Yes, it falsely claimed that inhaling steam could prevent COVID-19. This is not supported by scientific evidence. (False)
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Was there a viral fake news story in 2010 that claimed Steve Jobs and Bill Gates designed computers together?
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Yes, but it was false. They never collaborated on computer designs. (False)
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A viral post in 2019 claimed that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. True or false?
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False. Chocolate milk is made by adding chocolate to regular milk. (False)
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In 2017, there was a viral story that claimed a famous painting was found in a thrift store worth millions. Was this true?
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False. The story was invented and circulated as a fictional account. (False)
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Did a viral story in 2019 accurately claim that the U.S. had invented a machine for turning saltwater into drinkable water?
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False. While technology exists for desalination, the specific claims made in viral stories were exaggerated or false. (False)
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In 2020, a viral post claimed that applying garlic directly to your skin could cure coronavirus. Is this true?
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False. Garlic does not cure coronavirus when applied to the skin. (False)
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A viral image purportedly showing a giant bat as tall as a human circulated online in 2018. Was this image real?
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False, the image was misleading or altered, exaggerating the bat's size. (False)
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Did viral reports claim that Albert Einstein failed math as a child?
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Yes, but these claims are false. Einstein did not fail math and excelled in it from a young age. (False)
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Was there a viral hoax claiming that the sun is cold on its inside and only hot on the outside?
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Yes, such claims have been circulated, but they are scientifically false. (False)
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Did a viral story in 2021 accurately report that a man dug a tunnel from his home to a local bar?
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False, the story was made up and not based on real events. (False)
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A viral video claimed to show a UFO captured by NASA in 2015. Was this proven to be true?
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No, it was not proven true; such claims are usually unfounded or fabricated. (False)
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In 2019, did viral posts accurately suggest that people could charge their phones by putting them in a microwave?
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False, this is a dangerous hoax and microwaving a phone can cause harm. (False)
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Was it true that in 2018 a viral meme claimed the Great Wall of China is visible from space?
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False. While widely believed, the wall is not visible to the naked eye from space. (False)
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Did a viral story correctly report in 2020 that a new planet had been discovered orbiting Earth?
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False, there is no planet orbiting Earth, and such claims are hoaxes. (False)
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In 2016, did viral news correctly suggest that Australia was banning cats?
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False, while some regions have cat controls, the story widely exaggerated the facts. (False)
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Was there a viral fake news article claiming that NASA found a planet made entirely of diamonds?
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Yes, there was such a claim, but it was false and not scientifically validated. (False)
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Did a viral report in 2020 rightly claim that drinking cow urine prevents COVID-19?
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False, there is no scientific evidence supporting this claim, and it is false. (False)
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