Buzz
Remember when your parents warned you not to trust everything you see or hear online? And how your teachers dismissed Wikipedia as an unreliable source for academic work? Ironically, many of those same parents now often accept online information without question. Meanwhile, platforms like Wikipedia have significantly improved their accuracy and reliability over time.
Despite the internet's advancements, countless myths continue to circulate as facts. In this list, we’ll debunk ten widely believed internet 'truths' that are entirely false. No matter how many people repeat these claims or how persistent they are, they remain untrue. Now you’ll have the facts to set the record straight!
10. Sleep Myth Debunked
A persistent online rumor claims that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a dart gun designed to put children to sleep. According to the myth, this tranquilizer gun works by shooting a dart into a child’s neck, instantly inducing sleep. For exhausted parents reminiscing about sleepless nights with young children, this might sound like a dream solution. However, it’s entirely fictional.
However, the idea is utterly absurd. The mere concept of the FDA approving a dart gun for parents to tranquilize their children into sleep is unimaginable. For weary parents tired of bedtime struggles, this rumor offers no real solution. Instead, consider having Samuel L. Jackson narrate Go the F**k to Sleep—it might just do the trick!
9. Stay Awake, Seriously!
In 2017, the “World Daily News Report” shared a shocking tale about a morgue worker in Beaumont, Texas, who allegedly fell asleep on the job and was mistakenly cremated by his colleagues. The story claimed they mistook his nap for a deceased body and incinerated him.
The report detailed, “Henri Paul Johnson, 48, reportedly took a nap on a stretcher after a 16-hour shift. While he slept, a coworker confused him with a car accident victim’s body and sent him to the crematory. By the time the error was noticed, he had been exposed to extreme heat and reduced to ashes.”
While this sounds like a horrifying way to die, it’s entirely fabricated. Fact-checkers have confirmed the story is false, and the “World News Daily Report” is known for its unreliable content. Despite being debunked, the tale continues to circulate on social media, serving as a bizarre reminder to avoid napping at work!
8. The Myth of Eternal Twinkies
You’ve likely heard the internet legend that Twinkies never expire. Some claim they last seven years, while others joke that Twinkies, like cockroaches, could outlive a nuclear disaster. While cockroaches might have a chance, Twinkies certainly don’t. These iconic snacks aren’t immortal—they won’t last years, months, or even close to forever.
In reality, Twinkies have a shelf life of just 25 days. If they sit on a store shelf for more than three weeks without being sold, they’re supposed to be removed and discarded. After 25 days, they’re no longer considered fit for consumption.
So much for the idea of Twinkies being indestructible! They can’t even make it a full month. Yet, the internet continues to mythologize them as eternal, perhaps due to their highly processed ingredients.
7. Don’t Believe This!
Gaining admission to top-tier colleges like Duke University has always been challenging. In 2015, a Tumblr post surfaced, allegedly from a high school senior named Siobhan O’Dell, who claimed Duke rejected her application. In response, she supposedly sent a rejection letter back to Duke, rejecting their rejection.
The story took a humorous turn when Duke reportedly responded by rejecting her rejection of their rejection. While the back-and-forth is amusing, it’s entirely fictional. The Tumblr post that started it all was fabricated, but the idea of rejecting a rejection remains a funny concept.
6. The Chocolate Milk Myth
Have you ever wondered why chocolate milk is brown? Over the past 25 years, the internet has circulated two bizarre theories. One claims chocolate milk contains cow’s blood, rejected from regular milk production and sweetened to taste like chocolate. The other, more absurd theory, suggests chocolate milk comes exclusively from brown cows. While the latter is amusing, the former is downright unsettling.
Neither theory is true. Chocolate milk is simply a mix of regular cow’s milk and real chocolate. Despite this straightforward explanation, some online communities continue to push the false narratives about cow’s blood or brown cows. Their persistence in spreading misinformation is both baffling and consistent.
5. Debunking Flu Shot Myths
A long-standing myth claims that the flu shot contains live flu virus, making you sick after vaccination. This misconception has persisted for years, with many believing the shot introduces a small dose of the flu into your system. However, this is entirely false. The CDC has repeatedly debunked this myth, yet it continues to circulate online.
In truth, the flu vaccine contains an inactivated virus strain that helps your immune system prepare for the actual flu. This inactive virus cannot cause the flu, though some people may experience mild fever or achiness as their immune system responds. These symptoms are normal and subside within a day or two, leaving you protected against the flu.
4. The Cadbury HIV Rumor
Cadbury’s chocolates are undeniably delicious, but are they deadly? A disturbing rumor has circulated online, alleging that a Cadbury employee was arrested for adding HIV-infected blood to the company’s chocolate products. While the claim is shocking and baseless, it highlights the bizarre and unfounded stories that can spread online.
A social media rumor over the past year claimed that an HIV-positive Cadbury employee tried to infect millions by tainting chocolates with his blood. This is entirely false. No such arrest or incident ever occurred, and there’s no evidence to support this outrageous claim. Rest assured, the idea of HIV-infected blood in Cadbury products is a baseless and absurd lie.
This isn’t the first time such a rumor has surfaced. Similar claims were made about Pepsi products in the past, and later about Mango Frooti. Despite being repeatedly debunked, these rumors persist, suggesting that such sensational stories may resurface with new products in the future.
3. The Spider Gum Myth
Bubble Yum, a beloved gum from the ’70s and ’80s, was once the center of a bizarre rumor. Kids who grew up during that era might recall the excitement of chewing Bubble Yum for the first time. However, the gum was also the subject of a disturbing myth involving spiders.
The rumor claimed that Bubble Yum contained spider eggs, legs, or webs. While the specifics varied, the common thread was always spiders. Before the internet, this rumor was a nuisance. With the rise of the internet, it resurfaced repeatedly, gaining traction each time.
The situation escalated to the point where Bubble Yum’s manufacturer spent over $100,000 in legal fees to combat the spider-related rumor. Despite their efforts, the myth persisted. The internet, as we’ve seen, is often wrong but relentless in spreading misinformation.
2. The Spider Hair Myth
This tale predates the internet but has been widely circulated online. According to the story, a woman in the 1950s wore a large bouffant hairstyle, a popular trend at the time. Maintaining it required significant effort, so she avoided taking it down, washing it, or combing it out. She even slept with it intact.
One day, she allegedly discovered a spider had made her hair its home. Over time, cobwebs formed, and the spider reportedly gave birth to a baby spider. The baby spider supposedly bit the woman in her sleep, leading to her death. The moral of the story? Always wash your bouffant.
However, this story is entirely fabricated. There’s no record of such an incident, and while some spider bites can be fatal, no one has ever died from a spider bite in this context.
This bizarre rumor has persisted for decades. In the 1950s, it targeted bouffant hairstyles, in the 1960s, unkempt hippie hair, and in the 1990s, dreadlocks. Despite being entirely false, the internet continues to propagate this myth.
1. The Root Canal Cancer Myth
Root canals are far from enjoyable, but do they cause terminal cancer? A persistent online rumor suggests that root canals drastically increase the risk of cancer. This alarming claim has caused unnecessary fear, especially when maintaining oral health is crucial.
Fortunately, this rumor is entirely false. There’s no scientific link between root canals and cancer. In fact, people who prioritize dental care, including root canals, often enjoy better overall health and longevity. Let’s put this unsettling myth to rest and focus on good oral hygiene.
