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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Old Hoax Shows Up in Posts About Nashville School Shooter

Old Hoax Shows Up in Posts About Nashville School Shooter

False claims about the shooter at a Christian elementary school in Nashville have been swirling on social media. Police shot and killed the suspect, whom they identified as 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale. The person was not named “Samantha Hyde” — a reference to a long-running internet hoax.

Internet Hoax Spreads False ID on Michigan State University Shooter

Internet Hoax Spreads False ID on Michigan State University Shooter

Police identified the suspect in the Feb. 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University as Anthony Dwayne McRae, who shot and killed himself. But a viral internet hoax used the photo of another man and falsely claimed that the suspect was named “Lynn Dee Walker.”

Instagram Hoax Nabs Rick Perry

Instagram Hoax Nabs Rick Perry

A thoroughly debunked hoax claiming that Instagram users can stop the platform from using their pictures if they post a statement rescinding permission has been circulating again. This time, it ensnared a member of the Trump administration.

Horner Hoax Remix

Horner Hoax Remix

Q: Was a teen sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing a refugee who raped his sister?

A: No. That is a made-up headline on an old internet hoax story.