This is especially true for children and teenagers, who grow up in an online world where hoaxes, manipulated images, and sensational stories spread faster than ever before. So how can we help them navigate it more safely? By educating ourselves first.
Knowing how to tell truth from fiction isn’t just useful; in today's world, it’s a survival skill. And it starts with understanding the different forms misinformation can take. Learn to recognize each of them and be better prepared to counter them.
Rumors, Hoaxes & Urban Legends – What’s the Difference?
Not everything you see online is true, but not all false information is created equal. Some of it spreads as rumors – digital whispers that bounce from person to person without solid proof. One moment someone “heard” something, and the next, it’s viral information. It can be a fake poisonous Halloween candy warning or killer clown news. Sometimes these rumors start innocently — just someone misinformed, passing the message along. But others are spread deliberately, with the intent of causing panic, confusion, or damaging someone’s reputation.
Then there are hoaxes – deliberate lies designed to trick, scare, or scam people. They often look like real news or too-good-to-be-true offers, but they’re just clever fakes. Unlike rumors, hoaxes are always created with malicious intent – purposefully designed to manipulate their audience.
Can your children recognize hoaxes?
And finally, urban legends – those eerie or unbelievable stories that seem just plausible enough to stick. You’ve probably heard one from a “friend of a friend”. It's a spooky, strange, or sensational tale that often lives online for years, whether true or not.
In the past, these things were shared by word of mouth. Today? They go viral in seconds thanks to videos, group chats, and social media. Some stories spread so widely and quickly that they cause genuine fear among parents, even if there is little or no truth behind them. The internet — especially social media — has made it easier than ever for false information to reach children and families before facts can catch up.
How does AI shape misinformation?
Artificial intelligence is changing the way misinformation is created and shared. Today, AI tools can generate fake news articles, realistic images, and even convincing deepfake videos in seconds — often so polished that they’re hard to tell apart from the real thing. On social media, AI-powered bots can rapidly spread false stories, while algorithms may unintentionally boost misleading content simply because it gets attention. As these technologies become more advanced, spotting the truth gets trickier — which makes critical thinking, emotional control, and media literacy more important than ever.
Tip: You can try creating a fake post or website together with your children using free online tools. It’s a hands-on way to show them how easily misinformation can be created — and how important it is to question what we see online. Some media literacy programs even recommend this as an effective family activity.
How can you fight misinformation?
- Pause before you share
If something sounds shocking, scary, or too perfect, take a moment. Don’t spread it just because it feels true.
- Check the source
Who’s saying it? Is it a trusted news outlet, or just a random post or video? Reliable info comes from reliable places. Always make sure your source is among them.
- Look it up
A quick search can go a long way. Chances are, if it’s false, someone has already debunked it or exposed it as false.
- Watch for red flags
ALL CAPS, spelling mistakes, dramatic language, or pressure to “share now” are signs it might be fake.
- Talk about it
Help others spot misinformation too. A simple “Are you sure that’s true?” can stop a rumor in its tracks.
Famous Misinformation Cases
Let’s start with one of the most well-known examples. All of the following have, at some point, reached large audiences and caused fear, harm, or even cost victims their lives.
Is Fake News a Modern Trend?
Over 2,000 years ago, long before TikTok or Twitter, the Roman Republic was in turmoil. Two powerful rivals were fighting for control: Octavian, the adopted heir of Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony, the famous general romantically linked to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra.But Octavian didn’t just fight on the battlefield, he fought with words too. He launched one of history’s earliest smear campaigns, accusing Antony of being an alcoholic, abandoning Roman values, and falling dangerously under Cleopatra’s influence.No social media? No problem. Octavian spread his message through fiery speeches, catchy poems, and even slogans stamped onto Roman coins. It worked. Public opinion turned against Antony, Octavian claimed victory, and later became Augustus – Rome’s first emperor, ruling for over 40 years.
The Blue Whale Challenge
Back in 2016, a story began circulating online about a disturbing online game known as the Blue Whale Challenge. It was said to target teenagers, luring them into completing a long list of dangerous tasks — with the final step being suicide. The rumor quickly spread across social media, messaging apps, and forums, triggering widespread fear among parents and school officials around the world.
The idea of a hidden online community encouraging teens to harm themselves was horrifying — but investigations later found that there was no concrete evidence that such a game ever truly existed. The panic seemed to have grown from a mix of unconnected reports, speculation, and emotional reactions. Some online users associated the image of a blue whale with sadness and isolation, which may have helped fuel the myth.
Although one man in Russia claimed to have created the game, it later appeared that his statements were more about gaining attention than revealing an actual phenomenon. The Blue Whale Challenge was ultimately debunked as a hoax — but it served as a powerful reminder of how quickly alarming stories can gain traction online, especially when they tap into parental fears.
While this particular case was fictional, real-life dangers have been linked to online trends – from the cinnamon challenge to the Tide Pod craze – where children and teens ingest harmful substances, risking serious damage to their health. It’s important to look beyond the headlines and approach viral stories with a critical eye.
The Sleepy Chicken Challenge
A 2022 TikTok trend called the Sleepy Chicken or the NyQuil Chicken flooded the platform. It involves cooking chicken in NyQuil, an over-the-counter cough syrup. While it may look like a joke, the consequences can be seriously harmful.
Heating medicine like NyQuil changes its chemical properties. When boiled, it can release toxic vapors that may irritate or even damage the lungs when inhaled. Eating the chicken can be just as dangerous – the syrup’s ingredients (like acetaminophen and dextromethorphan) become highly concentrated and unevenly spread through the meat, making it easy to accidentally overdose.
Though it may seem too bizarre to be real, challenges like these can gain traction online quickly, and it’s important for parents to stay informed.
TikTok has promised to remove harmful hoaxes and alarmist warnings that could negatively impact users, especially teens. It says it wishes to promote content that dispels panic with accurate information. The platform has also said that it is improving its detection systems, moderation tools, and educational resources to help parents, teens, and educators better understand and respond to viral misinformation.
The Deodorant Challenge
A summertime trend that made its way onto social media in 2017 involves kids spraying aerosol deodorant directly onto their skin for as long as they can take it. It may seem like harmless fun, but it can actually cause burns ranging from first- to third-degree.
Doctors say the gas cools so fast that it freezes the skin, creating an effect similar to frostbite. The damage might show up right away or take days to appear, and it can leave lasting scars. The regular use of spray deodorant isn’t the issue here – it’s the extreme misuse in these online challenges that’s causing the injuries.
The “National Rape Day” Hoax
First appearing in 2021 and resurfacing in multiple languages since, a deeply disturbing hoax known as “National Rape Day” falsely claims that sexual assault would be legal for one day – April 24th. Despite being widely debunked, the rumor went viral again in 2024, this time spreading across German-language TikTok after a Berlin official issued a public warning.
Instead of stopping the panic, the warning helped amplify the hoax. Some blogs and online actors used it to push false and harmful narratives, including xenophobic claims blaming migrant communities. Experts say this kind of messaging distracts from the real causes of sexual violence and contributes to harmful myths like stranger danger.
TikTok failed to properly flag or block content related to the hoax — no warnings or fact-checks were shown, even as the story spread across borders. This case reveals how quickly dangerous content can move from online platforms into real-world fears.
In a world where misinformation can go viral in seconds, learning to question what we see, hear, and share online has never been more important. Whether it’s a spooky urban legend, a dangerous challenge, or a harmful hoax, staying curious and careful is the best way to protect our children. Truth may be harder to spot in the age of AI, but with the right tools and mindset, we can all learn to think smarter and share more wisely.
