From Team Snopes: One Year at the Center of the Infodemic

​ THURSDAY EDITION Snopes Debunker 11 March 2021 One Year at the Center of the Infodemic For more than a year, we’ve been experiencing two pandemics — COVID-19, the disease ravaging the world, and the infodemic of rumors, hoaxes, and malicious disinformation surrounding it. One year on, we’re ready to share what we’ve learned about the infodemic — the year misinformation swallowed the world. Click below to view this collection by Snopes staff. Read More Fact Checks Did Pfizer’s Former ‘Chief Scientist’ Say There Was ‘No Need for Vaccines’? Michael Yeadon last worked at Pfizer a decade ago, and was never the company's "chief scientist." His anti-vaccine argument relies on predictions that never panned out. ❌  Mostly False   Did a Woman Find a ‘Secret Room’ Behind the Bathroom Mirror of Her Apartment? Samantha Hartsoe ignored the lesson learned by many a horror movie character and went in there. ✅  Mostly True   Did Arizona GOP Rep. Ask ‘If Masks Work, Why Weren’t They Needed in AIDS Crisis?’ Joseph Chaplik was met with bemusement after remarks he made while advocating for a bill to exempt Arizona businesses from mask mandates. ✅  Correct Attribution   Is ‘Shredder’s Revenge’ a New ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Video Game? The "heroes in a half shell" are coming back ... again. ✅  True   ‘Accidental’ Venmo Payment from a Stranger May Be a Scam Beware of strangers on Venmo "accidentally" sending money and requesting it back. ❌  Scam View Latest Fact Checks We Believe in a Brighter Future Debunking misinformation is an unending challenge, and we thank our supporters for joining us in this fight. Whether you support us through contributions or by sharing our fact checks, we appreciate all that you do! $5 $10 $20.21 $50 $100 Other News Poll: 1 in 5 in US Lost Someone Close in Pandemic In a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, people still in mourning express frustration at the continued struggle to stay safe. Read More   EU Regulator Approves J&J’s One-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine The one-dose shot is now the fourth vaccine to be approved in the bloc. Read More   Man Sues Hertz Over Receipt That Cleared Him of Murder A Michigan man who spent nearly five years in custody is suing a car rental company for failing to produce in a timely manner a receipt that would have proved his innocence long before he was convicted of a 2011 murder. Read More   Report: Cuomo Groped Female Aide in Governor’s Residence An aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he groped her in the governor’s residence, in the most serious allegation made yet by a series of women against the embattled Democrat. Read More   No Evidence Migrants at Border Significantly Spreading Virus Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has tried shifting concern about the virus’ spread to migrants with COVID-19 crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, though without evidence they are a significant factor. Read More

View Latest News Staff Pick Is ‘Cocaine Bear’ a True Story? Remember, only you can prevent forest overdoses. Read More