Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.
Top Internet Hoaxes
12
Flashcards
0/12
Blue Star Acid Tattoos
This hoax claimed that temporary tattoos laced with LSD, known as 'Blue Star', were being distributed to children. Originating in the 1980s, flyers and chain letters spread this false information. Drug enforcement agencies and health departments have debunked this, stating there have been no confirmed cases and the concept is impractical and unfounded.
The Bielefeld Conspiracy
The Bielefeld Conspiracy was a satirical internet hoax that claimed the German city of Bielefeld did not exist. Originating from a parody post on the German Usenet in 1994, it was intended as a joke about conspiracy theories proliferation. The city's existence is easily verified through multiple sources, and the original poster has clarified it was a joke.
Slender Man Stabbing
While Slender Man is a well-known fictional character from internet horror lore, a tragic event occurred when two 12-year-old girls stabbed a classmate, claiming it was in Slender Man's name. This real crime was influenced by a fictitious entity, and there was a lot of media misrepresentation suggesting a supernatural element. The phenomenon around Slender Man is fictional, created in a 2009 Photoshop contest.
Facebook Privacy Notice Hoax
This hoax involves a false claim that posting a specific 'privacy notice' on one's Facebook timeline will protect the user's data from misuse. The hoax has been repeatedly debunked by experts and Facebook itself, who confirm that users' rights are governed by the platform's terms of service and cannot be altered by posting a status.
The Momo Challenge
The Momo Challenge was a hoax and urban legend about a nonexistent social media challenge that was spread on Facebook and other platforms. It allegedly encouraged children to perform dangerous tasks, including self-harm. The character 'Momo' was actually a sculpture created by a Japanese artist which had no connection to the challenge. Various fact-checking organizations and law enforcement agencies debunked the claims, stating there was no evidence that the challenge had caused any harm or even existed.
The Dionaea House
The Dionaea House is an internet fiction presented as a series of blog posts and emails, detailing a series of interlinked horror stories. Readers initially thought it was real due to its epistolary format. The creator Eric Heisserer clarified that the stories were entirely fictional and were part of a creative writing project.
Facebook Gold Membership Hoax
This hoax promised users access to exclusive features if they posted a specific status or joined a certain group, claiming Facebook would start charging for usage otherwise. The hoax gained traction multiple times over the years. Facebook has openly stated it is free and always will be, debunking the hoax.
John Titor Time Traveler
The John Titor hoax involved posts on internet bulletin boards in 2000 and 2001 by someone claiming to be an American military time traveler from 2036. The person made various predictions about the future and the mechanics of time travel. None of the specific predictions came true, and inconsistencies in the story lead to widespread skepticism, debunking the claims.
Lonelygirl15
Lonelygirl15 was initially believed to be the video diary of a teenage girl named Bree. It gained immense popularity on YouTube in 2006. However, it was later revealed to be a scripted series made by creators Mesh Flinders, Miles Beckett, and Greg Goodfried, and actress Jessica Rose portrayed Bree. The series was one of the earliest examples of using online platforms for fictional storytelling.
Save Toby the Bunny
The 'Save Toby' hoax was a campaign claiming that unless a certain amount of money was received, the owner would eat his pet rabbit, Toby. The campaign was a satirical performance art piece and there were never any serious plans to harm Toby. However, it gained significant attention and even resulted in a book deal for the owner.
The Derbyshire Fairy
This hoax involved photographs of what appeared to be a mummified fairy, supposedly found in Derbyshire, England. The creature was actually an intricate sculpture by artist Dan Baines. Baines later revealed the 'fairy' was a hoax meant to promote his art for April Fool's Day.
The Amityville Horror
The Amityville Horror story is based on alleged supernatural events experienced by the Lutz family in their home in Amityville, New York. Following the book and subsequent movies, investigations and legal documents revealed that the story was exaggerated and partly fabricated for commercial gain. The Lutz family's lawyer even admitted it was a hoax during a legal case.
© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.