News and social media are awash with information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately much of what’s shared on social media about COVID-19 is false, misleading, or speculative. From the White House to the CDC, conspiracy cranks to Goop contributors, it’s a...
Conspiracy theories
When Anti-Vaccination Fears Come From Inside The House
During the first presidential debate, moderator Chris Wallace mischaracterized Kamala Harris's concerns about vaccinations under Trump. I wrote about it recently: "Harris did not promote any conspiracy theory; she chose her words carefully: '*If* the past is prologue,...
When Anti-Vaccination Fears Come From Inside The House
My new article is on why some progressives have recently joined conservatives and conspiracy mongers in promoting vaccination fears: "The chorus of those raising fears about vaccine safety (for whatever reason ranging from genuine fears to belief in conspiracies to...
Squaring the Strange # 128 – ¡Feliz Cumpleaños, el Chupacabra!
New episode of Squaring the Strange! This month is the 25th anniversary of the emergence of our favorite beastie, the chupacabra! We discuss the past, present, and future of this little vampiric critter . . . as well as disappearing mailboxes and what the media's "not...
‘Covid Parties’ Rumor Resurfaces
For those who didn't see my previous posts on so-called "cover parties," here's an overview: Recent rumors and news reports have circulated claiming that COVID-19 is being spread intentionally in clandestine “covid parties.” In mid-March, Kentucky...
The Blue Whale Game Resurfaces–Again!
A folklore colleague sent me a news story about the sinister-yet-fictional Blue Whale Game rumor, which is once again circulating after I and others debunked it back in 2017... I'm not going to link to it, to avoid rewarding poor journalism with clicks, but the...
Squaring the Strange: Rumor Roundup!
New, bonus episode of Squaring the Strange is now out! We present to you a rumor roundup, talking about all sorts of weird--and sometimes harmful--nonsense that's swirling around social media these days. A veritable cornucopia of rumor and myth, ranging from Wayfair...
Texas Hospital Finds ‘Covid Party’ – Or Legend
As if on cue! Following my recent CFI article “The Truth About Covid Parties” and Squaring the Strange podcast episode on ‘covid parties,’ titled “Tonight We’re Gonna Party Like It’s Covid 1999” there’s a news article suggesting they’ve been confirmed!...
The Truth About ‘Covid Parties’
Recent rumors and news reports have circulated claiming that COVID-19 is being spread intentionally in clandestine “covid parties.” In mid-March, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear made national headlines when he stated that part of the rise in coronavirus infections in...
‘Blue Whale Game’ Rumor Resurfaces
A folklore colleague sent me a news story about the sinister-yet-fictional Blue Whale Game rumor, which is once again circulating after I and others debunked it back in 2017... As if there aren't enough real problems to be concerned about? My original article,...