MISINFORMATION

Sep 16 2025CRIME

Unraveling the Web of Chaos After Charlie Kirk's Tragic Shooting

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's tragic shooting at Utah Valley University, the internet became a breeding ground for confusion and wild theories. People took to social media to spread rumors, misidentify suspects, and even create fake headlines. It's like a digital wildfire, where false information spreads faster than the truth. One viral video showed an older man bei...

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Aug 23 2025POLITICS

A Fake Post Stirs Up Trouble Online

In August 2025, a screenshot went viral online. It claimed to show California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office responding to Bed Bath & Beyond's announcement. The screenshot said the press office posted a rude message with an expletive and "BYE" on X (formerly Twitter). Many people believed it and shared it widely. The truth? It was fake. Newsom's press office n...

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Aug 18 2025SCIENCE

How Symbols Shape Our Beliefs: A Look at COVID-19 and Beyond

People often see things differently. What one person views as a sensible action, another might see as a sign of something much bigger. This idea is at the heart of a recent exploration into how symbols influence our perceptions and beliefs. Researchers dug into how people's views on COVID-19 measures were tied to something deeper: a symbolic show of strength. This i...

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Aug 10 2025HEALTH

A Gunman's Obsession and a Slow Response

A man's strong belief in vaccine misinformation led to a violent act. Patrick Joseph White, 30, opened fire on the CDC in Atlanta. He was inside a CVS across from the CDC's main entrance. No CDC staff or civilians were hurt, but he damaged several buildings and killed a police officer. White was found dead in the store with five guns. It's unclear if he shot himself ...

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Jul 23 2025POLITICS

Fighting Falsehoods: Macron's Legal Battle Against Online Claims

Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, are taking legal action against Candace Owens, a right-wing commentator. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, accuses Owens of spreading false and harmful claims about the Macrons to boost her media presence and income. Owens has repeatedly asserted that Brigitte Macron is a man, among other unfounded allegations. The Macrons have ...

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Jul 08 2025HEALTH

Measles Makes a Comeback: Why Vaccination Rates Matter

Measles is back in a big way in the U. S. After being declared eliminated in 2000, the country is now seeing the highest number of cases in decades. Over 1, 200 cases have been reported this year alone. Even more concerning, three people have died from the disease, all of whom were unvaccinated. The resurgence of measles is largely due to low vaccination rates. In G...

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Jul 04 2025HEALTH

What's Really Being Said About E-Cigs on Xiaohongshu?

Social media is a big deal these days. It's where lots of people go to learn about stuff, including e-cigarettes. Xiaohongshu, a popular platform among young people in China, is no exception. The problem? Not all the info out there is accurate. Some of it can be downright misleading. This is a big deal because young people are especially vulnerable to this kind of th...

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Jul 03 2025TECHNOLOGY

Spotting Fake AI Images: A Smarter Way to Stay Informed

In today's digital world, AI-generated images are becoming so realistic that it's getting harder to tell what's real and what's not. This raises concerns about a future where false information spreads like wildfire. A recent study explored whether teaching people specific strategies to identify AI-generated images could help them better distinguish between real and f...

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Jun 30 2025HEALTH

AI ChatBots: A Risky Source for Health Advice?

AI chatbots are everywhere, but should you trust them for health advice? A recent study shows that these tools can be easily tricked into giving wrong and even dangerous health information. Researchers tested five big AI models from companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI. They found that these chatbots can be manipulated to spread false health claims, like saying va...

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Jun 27 2025HEALTH

How Russian Online Groups Fuel COVID-19 Myths

The COVID-19 pandemic didn't just bring health worries; it also sparked a surge in wild theories. Some of these theories made people doubt vaccines. Experts found a link between these false stories and the use of online social platforms. These platforms are like big social clubs. They don't just let people share info; they also make it easy for false stories to spre...

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