Debunking Viral Claims

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FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on the social media network. We provide several resources for readers: a guide on how to flag suspicious stories on Facebook and a list of websites that have carried false or satirical articles, as well as a video and story on how to spot false stories.

Social Media Posts Twist Harris Campaign’s ‘Joyful’ Message

Social Media Posts Twist Harris Campaign’s ‘Joyful’ Message

August 29, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris has referred to participants in the Democratic presidential campaign as “joyful warriors,” and “joy” has been a theme at the party’s rallies and convention. Instagram posts, however, have falsely claimed the phrase “strength through joy,” which echoes a Nazi-era program, has become a Harris campaign slogan.

Post Shares Bogus Lara Trump Quote about Use of Celine Dion Song

Post Shares Bogus Lara Trump Quote about Use of Celine Dion Song

August 16, 2024

The Trump campaign showed a video of Celine Dion singing the theme from “Titanic” at a rally in Montana, sparking a rebuke from Dion for unauthorized use of the video. A post on Threads then shared a fake quote from Lara Trump responding to Dion saying, “We don’t give a damn” and “I’ll sing the song myself.” The quote originated on a satirical X account.

Harris Drew a Crowd in Detroit, But Detractors Spread Bogus Claim to the Contrary

Harris Drew a Crowd in Detroit, But Detractors Spread Bogus Claim to the Contrary

August 13, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris drew a large crowd at a campaign rally near Detroit, according to photos, videos and press reports. But posts circulating online make the baseless claim — amplified by former President Donald Trump — that an image of the event was fabricated or manipulated by artificial intelligence to inflate the crowd size.

Posts Use Altered Image of Buttigieg in Battle over Who’s ‘Weird’

Posts Use Altered Image of Buttigieg in Battle over Who’s ‘Weird’

August 9, 2024

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and his husband adopted two infants in 2021. Social media posts use an altered photo to imply Buttigieg is “weird” and that he used a strap-on device developed so men can breastfeed babies. The original photo is from a 2019 article about the device.

Posts Mislead About Harris’ Romance with Willie Brown

Posts Mislead About Harris’ Romance with Willie Brown

August 7, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris had a romantic relationship with powerful California politician Willie Brown in the 1990s. But claims on social media that she broke up his marriage misrepresent the facts. Brown had separated from his wife years before he and Harris had dated.

Netflix Chairman, Not the Company, Reportedly Donated to Super PAC Supporting Harris

Netflix Chairman, <a href=Not the Company, Reportedly Donated to Super PAC Supporting Harris" width="200" height="200" />

July 29, 2024

Netflix Co-founder and Executive Chairman Reed Hastings reportedly made a $7 million donation to a super PAC supporting Vice President Kamala Harris for president. But some social media posts inaccurately claim that “Netflix just donated 7 million to Kamala.” The contribution was from Hastings, not the company.

Social Media Posts Misrepresent Harris’ 2014 Remarks About Young People

Social Media Posts Misrepresent Harris’ 2014 Remarks About Young People

July 26, 2024

When Vice President Kamala Harris was the attorney general of California in 2014, she announced a program to help young people transitioning out of the criminal justice system. She glibly referred to the 18-24 age group as “stupid,” saying people that age “make really bad decisions.” But social media posts have taken her words out of context.

Posts Misrepresent States’ Efforts to Teach the Bible in Public Schools

Posts Misrepresent States’ Efforts to Teach the Bible in Public Schools

July 24, 2024

Oklahoma’s state superintendent ordered public schools to incorporate the Bible as “an instructional support into the curriculum.” But social media posts have shared the inaccurate claim that “Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana all ordered that the Bible be taught in public schools.” Louisiana and Texas haven’t issued such an order.

Misinformation Swirls After Attempted Assassination

Misinformation Swirls After Attempted Assassination

July 19, 2024

Conspiracy theories and misinformation on social media began clouding coverage of the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump almost immediately after it happened. We addressed several of those claims.

Posts Baselessly Suggest Others Were Involved in Trump’s Assassination Attempt

Posts Baselessly Suggest Others Were Involved in Trump’s Assassination Attempt

July 18, 2024

Viral online posts make the unfounded claim that a woman at former President Donald Trump’s July 13 rally acted “suspicious,” suggesting that she might have been involved in a plot to assassinate Trump, and that a QAnon-related character may have also been involved. The FBI has said that the “investigation to date indicates the shooter acted alone.”

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