Fauxtography

Numerous photographs and videos circulate on the Internet. Some are real. Some are fake. Some are real, but have been given false backstories.

Is This Hairy Frog Real? There is such thing as a hairy frog, but this?

False

Is George Clooney’s ‘Convict Trump’ Shirt Real? T-shirt companies frequently photoshop celebrities into their merchandise.

False

No, This Wind Turbine Didn’t Melt in Texas Heat It's certainly hot in Texas, but not quite that hot.

False

Does Photo Show a Newly Discovered Easter Island Statue? The mysterious Rapa Nui statues have captured people's imaginations for more than a century.

Outdated

Does This Photo Show D-Day Paratroopers in 1944 and Today? Similarities abound, but not exactly in the fashion outlined in a popular meme.

Miscaptioned

Was the Skeleton of a Giant Battling a Serpent Found in Thailand? Which one of the parties ultimately won the princess they were fighting over remains unknown.

False

A photograph supposedly showing a phallic-shaped rock was widely shared on social media.

Is This Phallic-Shaped Rock Real? Too ... many ... puns!

True

Is This Elon Musk ‘Defend Billionaires’ Billboard Real? We found no sign of it.

Unproven

Is This Suggestive Mickey Mouse Milk Ad Real? Sometimes, a bottle of milk is just a mouse's favorite treat.

False

Is This a Real Science Textbook Introduction? Advanced physics textbooks are not generally known for their jocularity.

True

Does Match.com’s ‘Hannah’ Enjoy Microwaving Butterflies? Run an annoying ad campaign, and you risk someone's making your ads even more annoying.

False

Is This a Real Airport Sign in India? Sometimes a real image is even funnier than a photoshopped version of it.

False