Latest news with #viralpost
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- General
- Gizmodo
How to Check If That ‘Deleted' Tweet Is Real
It happens almost every day. A screenshot of a social media post from a prominent figure like Elon Musk or Donald Trump goes viral because it demonstrates just how stupid these men really are. But sometimes it sounds too good to be true. You go to check X or Truth Social yourself and it's not there. But maybe it was deleted. What do you do? Well, we've got some tips that might be helpful for uncovering the truth. Right off the bat, it's important to note that there's not always a foolproof way to figure out if a 'deleted' tweet was real, especially if it's not from a famous person. But there are things you can do to get closer to the truth. And with a little bit of detective work, you can often figure out if that deleted tweet ever existed. The first step in any tweet fact-check involves looking for the original post yourself on the platform where it appears to have originated, whether it was X, Facebook, or Truth Social. The easiest way to do that is to take a snippet of the text you found in a screenshot and search using quotation marks. You don't need to use the entire tweet; just a portion will be fine. Let's take an example of an old tweet from Musk. Below is a tweet that I screenshotted on Nov. 23, 2023, but Musk later deleted. If you saw this screenshot floating around and wanted to verify if it was real, you could go to X and search the phrase 'What say you major brands?' That search yields a few results that look like bots just repeating what Musk said: And if you scroll down through those tweets, there's even a link to the original tweet from Musk. Clicking on that brings you to a notice that reads 'Hmm…this page doesn't exist. Try searching for something else.' It seems we have confirmed that the tweet was real since we found the original URL, quoting the text we saw in a screenshot, and it's coming up with an error message. But what happens if you don't see any solid leads like that in the social media app where the post appeared to originate? Check out a resource like and search your snippet of text there. A quick search for 'What say you major brands?' doesn't come up with any hits, but that's not unexpected. The content of this Musk tweet doesn't appear to be particularly notable. The Tesla CEO often tweets hundreds of times each day, so it's unlikely that news outlets are going to write a story about everything. But that brings us to other clues about whether something should be in the news. One good example recently was a post that appeared to be coming from Donald Trump that read 'STOP TALKING ABOUT EPSTEIN' with five exclamation points. If you went over to Truth Social and searched when that post was going viral, you wouldn't have found it. And since it was coming from the president, you would've expected there to have been lots of news articles quoting it. The thing that complicated matters was the fact that it wasn't long before Trump posted something identical in spirit and somehow even more unhinged. But if you searched for that exact phrase in Google News, you still wouldn't see the fake tweet that read 'STOP TALKING ABOUT EPSTEIN.' Maybe the tweet was deleted quickly, and there wasn't enough time for news outlets to pick it up. But there are other clues that might suggest something is fake. Does the tweet have a high number of views, but you don't see bots on X or major news outlets writing about it? A banal tweet isn't going to get picked up by CNN. But a tweet where a prominent figure declares something outrageous probably will. And if the screenshot you're looking at has millions of views, it should probably be showing up in reliable places. There are many places online where people post fake tweets, including subreddits that revel in photoshops. If you're trying to investigate a fake tweet, a good place to start looking might be any message boards specifically started to be skeptical of that person. Elon Musk has plenty, for example. There are also comedians who like to make fake tweets, with one in particular that we'll check in on whenever a tweet that looks too good to be true goes viral. That person is @marionumber4 on X and has the handle 679 Enthusiast. The person behind that account loves making fake tweets and frequently will photoshop 'this post has been deleted' on the bottom for maximum confusion. Again, if you're going to spread a photoshopped tweet, people often don't know what to do if they see that visual signifier because it tells them in advance there's nothing to find if they go looking for it. Which brings us to a recent fake tweet from '679 Enthusiast' that was fact-checked using Grok… The account 679 Enthusiast recently made a photoshopped post about Musk that read 'Just like I took your wife,' that appeared to quote-tweet Stephen Miller. It's a joke about the rumors that there was some kind of romantic relationship between Musk and Miller's wife, rumors that have not been confirmed by any reliable sources. But naturally, someone wanted to ask Grok if the screenshot was real. Incredibly, Grok said it 'likely existed and was deleted.' To be clear, the tweet never existed. But AI doesn't know that because AI doesn't actually know things. It's a fancy Speak & Spell. But Grok suggested it must be real because 'while a fabricated screenshot is possible, the evidence leans toward the post being real but removed, consistent with Musk's pattern of deleting controversial posts.' Again, it's not real. But Musk saw this and replied, clearly frustrated, insisting, 'I never posted this.' Funny enough, 679 Enthusiast eventually deleted their photoshop of the Musk tweet about Miller's wife. Check the Wayback Machine. There are places online that archive content, like the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, but there are so many caveats to that suggestion. The Wayback Machine is not quick to archive anything, so if you're looking for a recent tweet, it's probably not going to be there. But if it's an old tweet that you think was deleted, and you have the patience to find the dates in question through significant clicking around, you could luck out. If you search for a tweet and see that it pops up, make sure you click through and verify it's coming from the official account. Tweets that looked like they were coming from Robert F. Kennedy were incredibly popular earlier this year but fooled a lot of people because they were actually from a parody account. Musk got rid of the old Twitter 'verification' model after he bought the social media platform in late 2022, and now anyone with $8 to spend can buy a blue checkmark. One way that so-called 'parody' accounts trick people into believing they're real is to create long screen names that push the disclaimers out of view when you're reading the name on mobile. For example, one popular RFK Jr. account is called 'Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Commentary only.' And if you even know that 'commentary' is supposed to be a disclaimer, you might not even see it. Only when you click through to the account's bio does it read 'No Affiliation,' though it still doesn't use precise language about where the 'affiliation' is lacking. So, yes, you might find a tweet that seemed too stupid to be real in your search on platforms like X. But be extra careful when you look at the account that shared it. There is no surefire way to always figure out whether a 'deleted' tweet is real. But hopefully our tips can help you narrow down your search. And given just how stupid our current timeline is, people are tweeting things that are simply beyond parody.
Motor 1
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘Menace to Society:' Man Says Ford, Nissan, and Chevy Make the ‘3 Most Reckless Cars on the Road.' Are You Driving One?
In a Facebook post , Alshvn OnlyUp (@ humorously revealed his picks for the top three most reckless cars on the road. The post went viral, generating over 330,000 views as of this writing. What Are the 3 Most Reckless Cars on the Road? 'These cars change lanes like they are playing GTA. No signal, no warning,' Alshvn begins. The first car on the list is the Nissan Altima. Alshvn starts out by calling this car the 'menace to society.' 'If you drive one of these, your license is probably suspended, [the] check engine light is on, and your bumper is hanging on for dear life. There is no telling what lane you are in or where you are heading, but you will get there aggressively,' Alshvn jokes. The second car he features is the legendary Ford Crown Victoria. 'If you are rolling in one of these, chances are you are from the hood or you move like it. Oh, that spotlight by the driver's door, that probably doesn't even work, [but] as soon as you pull on someone, they are slowing down thinking you are the police,' Alshvn shares. Last, but definitely not least, the Chevy Impala rounds out the list. 'In this car, you either fly past everyone in the fast lane or on the side of the road with your hazards on since your transmission just went out. There's no in between,' Alshvn claims. Alshvn told Motor1 , 'The video was made with humor in mind. I picked the Altima, Crown Vic, and Impala because of some of the wild things I've seen—both on the road and online. It wasn't meant to offend anybody, just to poke fun at the stereotypes in car culture. I believe that mixing humor with real car talk is part of what makes content like this connect.' Gotta Be Careful With Those Altimas If you aren't already aware, the Nissan Altima is a car that is very negatively stereotyped among the online car community, GT Planet reports. According to the stereotype, you'll see them weaving through traffic at high speeds and blowing red lights, Autopian shares. These reckless maneuvers have earned the car a bad reputation among the car community on Reddit . Nissan Altima drivers have been targeted by meme culture for being bad drivers and having a negative credit score. The viewers on the post also agreed with Alshvn's take. 'Nissan Altima aka the hood hellcat,' one commenter shared. 'Facts I'll pull over anytime I see a Nissan Altima, stay away,' another replied. The Legendary Crown Vic The Ford Crown Victoria was a popular choice for police departments in North America and even won the Best Cop Car Award, Forbes reports. Most police departments parted ways with the Crown Vic in 2011 due to not having Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), the International Security Driver Association reports. The end of the era left many Crown Vic Police Inspectors on the streets for everyday drivers to use. Some people dislike the Crown Vic because of its association with the police. The Chevy Impala Fast Lane 'Chevrolet Impala you've convinced yourself it's a luxury car and actually call it that,' a Reddit user roasts. This luxury reputation was partially influenced by rappers in the late 80s and 90s rapping about the mid-60s models. Owning and driving an early to mid-1960s model Impala was viewed as a status symbol, according to a Quora expert. These Impalas were rare and fast, with a beautiful design. Chevy has had multiple Impala models with transmission issues, according to Endurance Warranty. The issues have included transmission failure, slippage, and rough shifting. Now Trending 'If He Acts Like That From Rejection in Public…:' Female Motorcyclist Gets Hit on by Man at a Gas Station. Then She Rejects Him Car Salesman Gets Ghosted By Customer. Then He Looks Up the Customer Online Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Single man sends Facebook wild after accidentally revealing his six-pack while trying to sell a second-hand mirror
A bachelor has set the internet alight after leaving women open-mouthed over his reflection while he tried to sell an old mirror. Daz Gracie posted a listing to sell a pink and white children's desk, complete with a Mirror, on a Facebook Freecycle page last month - but prospective buyers were more interested in his chiselled abs, which were reflected as he took the snap. The 37-year-old, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said he didn't plan for his abs to make a guest appearance in the mirrored lid but when he realised, he posted it anyway. The loft insulation installer, who is currently single, said 'within 20 seconds' the desk had been claimed and his phone 'went wild' with messages from women desperate to claim him, rather than the desk. The viral post, which racked up almost 4,000 likes, shares and comments, left Daz 'laughing his head off' and claiming that Facebook ads might be the future of dating. 'My mum's recently moved and whoever lived in the house before had left that desk,' he explained. 'I'd gone to hers on Sunday morning and put an Ikea desk together for her and she asked 'Will you bang it [the kid's desk] on Facebook?'. 'I took some pictures then I noticed my torso was in it. Don't get me wrong I love a topless selfie but I could get a better one than that. Daz Gracie (pictured), 37, said he didn't plan for his abs to make a guest appearance in the mirrored lid but when he realised, he posted it anyway. He claims that, after leaving women hot under the collar on the social media site, Daz's friends suspected he had deliberately shown a little skin to grab the attention of prospective buyers. But he insisted: 'Honestly if I was meant to be in it, I would have put my face in it as well. 'I took it and was like 'I'm posting it anyway' and then all of a sudden my phone was just going wild. I was laughing my head off at some of the comments. 'Someone said 'I'm not interested in the desk but I'd definitely take the man', I was like 'Oh my God, here we go'.' Daz's Facebook post reads: 'Child's desk free to collect near Barnsley town centre. Thank you.' One woman wrote: 'Can I be considered, please, but not for the desk? X' Another commented: 'Is the man still available with delivery. Erm I mean the item.' One wrote: 'Mmmm very nice, whoever gets it is a very lucky girl.' Another commented: 'Freecycle the future of dating.' He said the post spread beyond the UK and he had people from Canada and the US messaging him. The post spread beyond the UK and Daz had people from Canada and the US messaging him and it's continuing to make the rounds online The post is continuing to make the rounds online despite a neighbour claiming the desk '20 seconds' after Daz listed it. He admits that despite being a 'good-looking chap', the situation has been 'good for the ego'. 'I'm not on the dating apps. I think I'm a good-looking chap anyway, I get plenty of messages,' he said. 'I've only been single about seven months and I was with my partner for a while. Having a lot of thirsty women after me on Facebook is definitely good for the ego. 'I'm not tempted to take any of them up on the offer just yet, I'm going on holiday so I'll see what happens after. 'My advice to any single blokes struggling to get messages on dating apps - get a picture on 'items for sale' and see what happens. Your luck could change.'
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
‘Sums it up': Goals list shows how everyone's 2025 is actually going
A photo showing a list of 'goals' for the first half of 2025 has sparked a wider conversation around the cost of living, highlighting just how much people are feeling the pinch right now. The image has been shared widely across the internet in recent days, garnering a huge amount of reaction from social media users. Popular X user, Kuame Oliver, is one of the people who recently shared the photo, which shows a piece of paper titled 'Goals. Jan-June 2025'. On the paper is a list of five goals that have been altered to things that are seemingly more achievable. The first one, 'buy a car', was changed to 'buy a carpet', and 'save $10,000' was changed to 'save $10'. The word 'case' was added to the end of the third goal of buying a new phone and number four reading 'live a happy life' was changed to simply read 'live'. The last goal, 'start my own business', was tweaked to read 'mind my own business'. The post went completely viral, being viewed more than 23 million times and attracting more than 1500 comments. While it is clear the photo was meant to be light hearted and satirical in nature, it gave an insight into just how many people are struggling with cost of living pressures this year. 'This is one of the most realistic posts I've seen on the internet,' one person said, with another commenter branding the list 'very relatable'. 'Gotta keep them goals realistic,' another said, with someone else saying the photo 'pretty much sums it up'. One person noted they too have already had to change their plans for the year after being hit with unexpected financial commitments. 'So brilliant – but I admit that I am bored of having to continuously lower my expectations,' another commenter said. 'My wife says, carpets are too expensive; change it to carrot,' one person joked. Another added: 'Crossing out 'a happy life' and just having 'Live' took me out cause we just out here barely surviving at this point.' In Australia, many people are still reeling from the cost of living crisis, despite the consumer price index coming in at 2.1 per cent for May, dropping from 2.4 per cent in the 12 months to April. Hopes for further rate cuts have also been bolstered after the trimmed mean inflation rate came in at 2.4 per cent, the lowest level since November 2021. While slowing inflation is positive news, many Aussies are still feeling the pinch as the price of goods and services are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Research from financial comparison website, Finder, found there is a growing divide emerging across the country. According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, the average Australian has $45,475 in cash savings in June – up from $31,179 in June 2023, and a record high since Finder began tracking in 2019. The amount Aussies are saving each month is also at its highest, now sitting at $932, up from $614 in June 2023 and beating the previous record of $925 in March 2021. However, there is a significant gap between those on lower combined household incomes and those on higher combined household incomes. Average households with a combined income of up to $49,000 have just under $16,500 in savings, down from $22,377 in June 2024. Households with an income over $50,000-$99,999 have an average of $35,263 in cash savings, about $1,100 higher than the previous year. Those with a combined income of $100,000-$250,00 have an average of $67,463 in savings, up from $51,715 a year ago. Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said many households are having to dip into their savings to cope with increased costs. 'Even though the rate of inflation might be slowing, the reality is that prices for everyday essentials like groceries, housing, healthcare, and energy are still much higher than they were a year or two ago,' she told Ms Megginson said while using savings to help with the cost of living might provide some temporary relief for immediate financial stress, it ultimately reduces people's safety net for the future. 'It's a really hard time for many Australians because even a block of cheese can be $15, eggs can be over $10 a carton, and just paying for the essentials can wipe you out,' she said. 'Staying really close to your spending and making sure you're not paying more than you need to on your everyday household bills is a really good way to get some breathing space back in your budget.'
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I know I'm hot but I wasn't prepared for the legion of thirsty women after I posted a torso shot on Facebook Marketplace
A MAN trying to flog a kids' white desk on Facebook Marketplace was stunned when he became the thing people wanted to buy. Daz Gracie had a legion of thirsty women swooning over him when he posted the image of the desk on the site, along with his ripped six-pack. 3 3 3 The single man posted photos of the pink and white children's desk on a Facebook Freecycle page in a bid to free up space and inadvertently captured his toned tum in one of the mirrors. The 37-year-old says he didn't plan for his abs to make a guest appearance in the mirrored lid but when he realised, posted it anyway. The loft insulation installer said 'within 20 seconds' the desk had been claimed and his phone 'went wild' with messages from women desperate to claim him and leave the desk. The viral post, which racked up almost 4,000 likes, shares and comments, left Daz 'laughing his head off' and claiming that Facebook ads might be the future of dating. Daz, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said: "My mum's recently moved and whoever lived in the house before had left that desk. "I'd gone to hers on Sunday morning and put an Ikea desk together for her and she asked 'will you bang it [the kid's desk] on Facebook?'. "I took some pictures, then I noticed my torso was in it. Don't get me wrong I love a topless selfie but I could get a lot better one than that. "All the lads were like 'Daz I know what you're like' but honestly if I was meant to be in it I would have put my face in it as well. "I took it and was like 'I'm posting it anyway' and then all of a sudden my phone was just going wild. I was laughing my head off at some of the comments. "Someone said 'I'm not interested in the desk but I'd definitely take the man', I was like 'oh my God, here we go'. I'm a savvy mum & give my kids £10 charity shop shoes for Christmas but have a way to make them look like new £70 pair "I had people messaging me from Canada and America too, it went worldwide and it's still going. "The desk went in about 20 seconds, a woman from over the road took it." Single Daz admits that despite being a 'good-looking chap' the situation has been 'good for the ego'. Daz said: "I'm not on the dating apps. I think I'm a good-looking chap anyway, I get plenty of messages. "I've only been single about seven months and I was with my partner for a while. "Having a lot of thirsty women after me on Facebook is definitely good for the ego. "I'm not tempted to take any of them up on the offer just yet, I'm going on holiday so I'll see what happens after. "My advice to any single blokes struggling to get messages on dating apps - get a picture on 'items for sale' and see what happens. Your luck could change." Top tips when buying on Facebook Marketplace Be scammer-aware As a general rule of thumb, deal locally, and face-to-face. If someone asks you to ship an item, be wary. Only use secure methods of payment, look at buyer and seller reviews, and inspect an item closely before purchasing it. Stick to Messenger to communicate as well. Choose wealthy areas to get high-end items at low prices A well-to-do person who is selling something on Marketplace probably doesn't know or doesn't care what their item is worth. This is a jackpot scenario for a buyer. Don't be afraid to haggle If an item has been listed for weeks, offer 25% below the list price. It's likely the seller will counter offer, but you'll still get the item for less than originally priced. Don't send the auto-filled 'Is this item still available?' message If you notice an item is well-priced and desirable, and you really like it, don't wait around. Send a friendly opening message with an offer, and make the transaction hassle-free for the seller. Keep search items as broad as possible Assume the seller doesn't know exactly what they have, where it's from, what the material is, what the design style is, or how much it's worth—and cast a wide net. Daz's Facebook post reads: "Child's desk free to collect near Barnsley town centre. Thank you." One woman wrote: "Can I be considered, please, but not for the desk? X" Another commented: "Is the man still available with delivery. Erm I mean the item."
