VERIFY is dedicated to helping the public distinguish between true and false information. We gather claims or questions from our audience via social media, text and email, and use multiple sources to clearly and factually provide an answer.
You may know us from TikTok, but we also publish stories and updates on our website, verifythis.com, our daily newsletter, text updates, YouTube page and on our other social media accounts, which you can find at @verifythis.
Here are links to the full stories we featured on TikTok:
Week of Sept. 18
- No, United Auto Workers are not paid $75 an hour
- Video of a mom tearing down a pride flag isn’t real. It was a skit
- Yes, you can legally bury your loved one at sea
- There’s a possibility of contracting COVID-19 from gas pumps, but it’s not likely
- Yes, you can get the updated COVID vaccine for free. Here’s how
- No, a California bill wouldn’t make it illegal to confront shoplifters
- No, you won’t have to pay $4.99 a month to use Facebook
- No, Joe Biden didn’t visit ground zero as a senator the day after the 9/11 attacks
- Hunter Biden’s laptop: What we can VERIFY
- Florida Surgeon General's claim that updated COVID vaccines weren't clinically tested, including on humans, is misleading
Week of Sept. 11
- Most states don't require home sellers to disclose whether someone has died in the house
- Viral video claiming to show ‘leaked’ night vision footage not from Danelo Cavalcante manhunt
- Yes, there’s a difference between different brands of gas
- No, the U.S. government isn’t planning to recall the dollar
- It’s impossible to predict exactly when and where an earthquake will strike
- Most states don't require home sellers to disclose whether someone has died in the house
- Vicks VapoRub is toxic to consume and should not be used for teeth whitening
Week of Sept. 4
- No, the CDC didn’t say a new COVID strain is more contagious among vaccinated people than unvaccinated people
- No, these videos were not taken during Burning Man
- Yes, a new federal rule would expand who’s eligible for overtime pay
- Yes, a nationwide emergency alert test will happen on Oct. 4, 2023
- Yes, there’s a difference between different brands of gas
Week of Aug. 28
- You may be eligible for reimbursement if you buy a generator during a hurricane
- No, leaving your hands wet or drying them with your clothes isn’t more sanitary than using an air dryer
- You may be eligible for reimbursement if you buy a generator during a hurricane
- Negotiated drug prices for Medicare won’t take effect right away
- Viral videos of waterspout, oil tanker in rough seas are not from Hurricane Idalia
- No, Congress is not considering a law that would ban credit card rewards
- Celebrity homes were not selectively 'spared' from Maui wildfires
- What to know about vaccines for COVID-19, RSV and the flu: VERIFY Fact Sheet
Week of Aug. 21
- No, viral images don’t show evidence of ‘directed energy weapons’ starting fires in Maui
- No, US citizens will not need a visa to travel to most of Europe in 2024
- No, eating too many sweets won’t cause a ‘sugar high’
- No, the FDA did not approve the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19
- Yes, GoFundMe keeps a percentage of donations, but that’s not uncommon
- Yes, the RICO Act was created to prosecute the Mafia and other mobsters
Week of Aug. 14
- Yes, the state of Georgia requires mugshots for individuals facing felony charges
- No, the FDA did not approve the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19
- Yes, Target has recalled more than 7 million candles due to reports of severe burns and lacerations
- Yes, it is legal to keep unsolicited packages sent to your address
- No, the government didn’t say aliens are real. What we can VERIFY about the UFO hearing
- You can throw most single-use alkaline batteries in the trash — but recycling them is better
- Bug spray with DEET is not safe to use on or around dogs
- No, it’s not safe to take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm
- Yes, you can be elected president if you've been indicted or found guilty in a criminal case
- Viral Facebook posts about Amber Alert for girl named Bella Heather are fake
- Yes, it is legal to keep unsolicited packages sent to your address
- There are laws against Supreme Court justices accepting certain gifts, but no way to enforce them
- Yes, blood donation rules have changed for men who have sex with men
Week of Aug. 7
- EG.5 COVID-19 subvariant: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- No, the government didn’t say aliens are real. What we can VERIFY about the UFO hearing
- Claims about Illinois allowing ‘illegal immigrants’ to become police officers are misleading
- No, there isn’t a new disease called ‘Disease X’
- No, you should not use hydrogen peroxide on wounds
- No, air marshals aren’t on every U.S. flight
- No, you should not use rubbing alcohol to clean your wound
- No, there isn’t evidence to support claims of construction workers dying from water bottles laced with fentanyl
- Whether you can stay anonymous after winning the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot depends on where you bought the ticket
- No, it’s not safe to consume Borax
Week of July 31
- The Energy Department isn’t banning all incandescent light bulbs
- Could the 14th Amendment keep Trump out of office? Why it’s unlikely
- Photo of Tom Hanks in a ‘Keep America Trumpless’ shirt is fake
- No, the U.S. government didn't say alien bodies have been discovered
- No, you should not use rubbing alcohol to clean your wound
Week of July 24
- Whether you can stay anonymous after winning the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot depends on where you bought the ticket
- No, you should not use rubbing alcohol to clean your wound
- No, there isn’t evidence to support claims of construction workers dying from water bottles laced with fentanyl
- No, the Kids Online Safety Act does not require people to upload their driver’s licenses before posting online
- No, it’s not safe to consume Borax
- No, Shein has not been charged with RICO crimes
- No, Hank Williams Jr. didn’t resign from the CMT board in support of Jason Aldean
- No, it’s not cheaper to fill a gas-powered vehicle than charge an electric one
- VERIFY Fact Sheet: 5 ways to maximize your car’s fuel economy
- Yes, winter gas is slightly less fuel efficient than summer gas
Week of July 17
- Yes, the WHO put aspartame in the same category as pickled vegetables for cancer-causing substances
- No, a mosquito project linked to Bill Gates is not responsible for recent malaria cases in the U.S.
- Yes, convicted felons can run for president even if they can’t vote
- Yes, a can of Prime energy drink contains more caffeine than a can of Red Bull
- There are safer and more effective ways to kill wasps than method used in viral gasoline TikTok trend
- No, liquid medication is not more effective than capsules
Week of July 10
- The federal government doesn’t regulate roller coasters, but most states do
- No, the end of My Photo Stream won't delete photos from your iPhone
- Perfect Rotten Tomatoes score for ‘Barbie’ movie is fake
- The lottery will keep making annuity payments to winners even after they die
- No, a viral video of an SUV vehicle crash test is not real
- Yes, a can of Prime energy drink contains more caffeine than a can of Red Bull
- What we can VERIFY about bans on cluster bombs and whether using them is a war crime
- Yes, orca encounters with boats have increased, but only in one part of the world
- Sriracha hasn’t been discontinued, but supply is still limited due to years-long shortage
- No, lab-grown chicken is not currently being sold in U.S. grocery stores
- Yes, gas stoves produce hazardous emissions
- Yes, you can spot a rip current
Week of July 3
- No, plug-in devices like Miraclewatt or Stop Watt won’t save money on your power bill
- Yes, military academies are exempt from the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action
- No, SCOTUS didn’t rule that stalking is protected under the First Amendment
- No, there isn’t a day of the week when plane tickets are cheapest to buy
Week of June 26
- No, Supreme Court ruling does not eliminate other student loan forgiveness programs
- No, a viral video of an alien in a Las Vegas backyard isn’t real
- Yes, you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day
- Yes, sunscreen does expire, but not every bottle will have an expiration date
- Yes, spray sunscreen is as effective as lotion sunscreen, but both must be applied correctly to work best
- No, turning off your air conditioner when you leave home during the day won’t save you money
- No, colleges don’t have to ignore all references to race in admissions
- Mosquitoes: 5 VERIFIED facts about the summer pests
- Viral image of Titan submersible controller on ocean floor is doctored
- No, Social Security is not going to go bankrupt
- No, you don't need to wear anything higher than SPF 30 sunscreen
Week of June 19
- Comparing Trump, Biden, Pence and Clinton documents cases
- Blue, white and pink in Progress Pride flag represents transgender people, not ‘minor-attracted persons’
- Missing Titanic vessel is piloted with video game controller
- Shaving doesn't make your hair grow back thicker
- Viral video of alien in Las Vegas backyard is fake
- Temu online store: 3 VERIFIED facts
- Social Security is not going bankrupt
- You shouldn't wash raw chicken before cooking it
- Hackers can mimic website URLs by using other alphabets
- No evidence schools ever provided litter boxes for students 'identifying as cats'
- Modelo and Bud Light aren't owned by the same company in the US
Week of June 12
- The White House pride flag display did not violate flag code
- Yes, Trump signed a law that made mishandling classified documents a felony
- Temu: What you need to know
- Wildfire smoke does pose health risks
- Arizona didn't ban electronic voting machines
- Air conditioners can help filter out wildfire smoke
- Most payment apps are not federally insured
- Speed cameras reduce fatal and injury crashes
- Jet lag is worse when you travel east
Week of June 5
- Fact-checking Taylor Swift NBA 'curse'
- Yes, poor air quality from wildfire smoke affects pets
- Yes, speed cameras reduce fatal or injury crashes
- Yes, your car's recirculate button helps reduce air pollution in your vehicle
- No, Trump Bucks aren’t legal currency
- Yes, you should wait about 30 minutes to brush your teeth after consuming acidic foods or drinks
- No, Puerto Ricans don’t need a passport to travel to the U.S.
- No, asylum seekers aren’t required to receive routine vaccinations at the U.S. border
- Yes, the CDC makes unsolicited phone calls
- No, bubbles don’t keep mosquitoes away
Week of May 29
- Yes, you will eventually need to pay a fee to travel to most of Europe
- No, the CDC didn’t recall the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
- Yes, Hyundai and Kia have settled a class action lawsuit over theft losses
- No, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion is not a new hire
- No, Montana’s TikTok ban will not penalize individual app users
- Yes, the proposed debt ceiling deal requires student loan payments to restart
- No, Amazon is not adding a $1 fee for all returns
- DeSantis’ claim that there hasn’t been a ‘single book banned in Florida’ isn’t true
- Yes, susceptibility to allergies is largely inherited
- No, New York City isn’t ‘tracking food purchases’ or ‘imposing caps on red meat’
- No, California is not sending $1.2M in reparations payments to each of its Black residents
- No, homeless veterans were not kicked out of New York hotels to house migrants
- No, a viral photo does not show an explosion near the Pentagon
- Yes, there are shortages of chemotherapy drugs
- Yes, Netflix is cracking down on password sharing in the U.S.
- Yes, a COVID-19 infection can cause temporary hair loss
- Will Congress get paid if the U.S. defaults? Why no one knows
- Yes, some undocumented workers pay taxes
- No, Montana’s TikTok ban will not penalize individual app users
- No, the U.S. has never defaulted on its debt over failure to raise the debt ceiling
- No, Google won’t delete YouTube videos from inactive accounts
- Yes, protected bicycle lanes make streets safer
- No, you do not need to wash strawberries with vinegar and baking soda to clean them
- No, a 'base tan' doesn't prevent sun damage
Week of May 16:
- Yes, Republicans lifted the debt ceiling without spending cuts under Trump
- No, duct tape wasn’t used on a Spirit Airlines plane, as viral video claims
- Yes, a COVID-19 infection can cause temporary hair loss
- Yes, blood donation guidelines are changing for men who have sex with men
- Viral photo claiming to show George Santos’ mugshot is fake
- No, Starbucks isn’t charging customers more for light or no ice
- Fact-checking questions about the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Yes, a COVID-19 infection can cause temporary hair loss
- Yes, tinted car windows do reduce heat inside of the car
- No, Google hasn't gotten rid of passwords
- No, states can’t raise the voting age
- Yes, tap-to-pay is less vulnerable to credit card skimming than swiping or inserting
Week of May 8:
- No, the U.S. will not have an ‘open border’ when Title 42 ends
- Yes, the federal government keeps money it seizes in drug busts and other investigations
- Viral 2018 photo showing thousands of migrants resurfaces with claims about Title 42’s end
- No, there isn’t a day of the week when plane tickets are cheapest to buy
- Yes, your cellphone could be hacked if you use a public USB charging station
- Yes, the U.S. uses electronic passports and you might already have one
- Yes, hot weather can damage asphalt runways
- No, airlines aren’t required by law to pay for hotels and meals when your flight is canceled
- Yes, an airline can charge you a fee for help at the airport
Week of May 1:
Week of April 24
Week of April 17
- Yes, the U.S. government is investigating a secret Chinese police station in NYC
- There are laws against Supreme Court justices accepting certain gifts, but no way to enforce them
- Yes, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth worked for the CIA
- No, recycling symbols on plastics do not mean an item can always be recycled
- No, you can’t see the Great Pacific Garbage Patch from space
- Yes, drought can make it harder for soil to absorb water
- Yes, extreme heat influenced by climate change is killing sea life
- Yes, climate change could impact the production of beer
Week of April 10
- No, Hillary Clinton didn’t endorse Ron DeSantis for president
- Yes, 'botanical sexism' has led to more pollen in American cities
- Yes, the expelled Tennessee lawmakers could return to their seats
- Verifying claims about the RESTRICT Act and VPN use for restricted apps or sites
- Yes, members of Congress have to follow strict rules about accepting gifts
Week of March 27
- Claim about Kansas law ‘authorizing genital inspections of children’ needs context
- No, Trump could not pardon himself in New York case if he is re-elected president
- Yes, New York’s five-year statute of limitations for felonies can be extended in some cases
- Viral photos of Donald Trump’s ‘mug shot’ are fake
- Hush money payments can be legal, but falsifying business records is illegal
- No, Bill Clinton did not pay Paula Jones ‘hush money.’ It was a public settlement.
- Yes, former President Trump is under investigation for other crimes
- Yes, you can be elected president if you’ve been charged with or convicted of a crime
- Image of Pope Francis in a white puffer coat was created with AI
- Florida House Bill 999 won’t ban historically Black fraternities and sororities from state universities
- Video claiming to show Manhattan DA dropping charges against Trump is fake
- Yes, CPR should be performed at the same tempo as the disco song ‘Stayin’ Alive’
- No, it’s not dangerous to swim within 30 minutes of eating
- No, gum won’t take seven years to digest
- No, people don’t regularly swallow spiders while sleeping
- Yes, there is a way to tell the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds
Week of March 20:
- Yes, some eye products have been recalled due to bacteria exposure risk
- No, these photos don’t show Donald Trump being arrested
- No, Oprah isn’t selling or endorsing weight loss gummies
- No, the Biden administration isn’t proposing cuts to Medicare Advantage benefits
- No, political ads on TV aren’t required to be factual
- Yes, it’s free to search for and claim your unclaimed money
- The NCAA women’s basketball tournament only became part of March Madness last year
- No, there has never been a perfect men’s college basketball bracket on record
- Banks could deny credit cards to women who didn't have male cosigners until 1974
Week of March 13:
- Yes, March is a popular month for vasectomies so men can recover while watching March Madness
- Yes, a bill in Congress could result in a TikTok ban in the U.S.
- Yes, women have to work until March 14 to earn as much money as men did the previous year
- Viral post falsely links former Lehman Brothers executive to SVB collapse
- Yes, you can file your taxes for free
- Social Security benefits are taxable for some people, depending on their income
- Yes, you can claim a missed stimulus check, but you have to file a 2020 or 2021 tax return
- No, families can’t receive the increased child tax credit in 2023
- No, parents can’t claim the child tax credit for children who turn 18 in 2021
- No, the IRS is not changing tip reporting requirements to crack down on waiters
- Yes, the IRS requires people to report income from stolen property and illegal activities
- Yes, you can check the status of a delayed tax refund
- No, workers aren’t eligible for up to $26,000 through the Employee Retention Credit
Week of March 6:
- Walgreens, caught in abortion pill debate, isn't currently providing the medication anywhere
- No, sitting too close to the TV won’t damage your eyes
- Yes, members of Congress can collect a pension
- Yes, the U.S. has tried year-round daylight saving time before
- Daylight saving time is not observed in all 50 states
- No, the U.S. government hasn’t made daylight saving time permanent
- No, people don’t regularly swallow spiders while sleeping
- Yes, there is an Ozempic shortage
- Yes, experts estimate the U.S. and Russia hold 90% of the world’s nuclear inventory, as viral graph shows
- No, extra benefits for SNAP recipients will not continue into March
- Yes, the U.S. averages more than 1,700 train derailments a year
Week of February 27
- Yes, in 1975 Joe Biden proposed sunsetting all federal spending, including Medicare and Social Security
- Viral video shows bent Ohio train tracks in 2017
- Yes, the same Girl Scout cookies have different names in different places
- Yes, cracking your neck could cause a stroke, but it’s very rare
- No, most companies can’t stop people from sharing their pay with other employees
- No, Walmart isn’t getting rid of plastic bags in all U.S. stores
- Yes, temperature swings can make you feel bad
Week of February 20
- No, a viral video about Congress crime statistics is not accurate
- Video of Biden saying some U.S. aid could support Ukrainian pensions is from April 2022
- Yes, presidents are legally required to turn over all presidential records when they leave office
- Yes, there is a law that regulates how loud TV commercials can be
- Social Security recipients won’t get a bonus payment in March
- Yes, the first paramedics in the U.S. were Black men
- No, Jackie Robinson was not the first Black man to play Major League Baseball
Week of February 13
- What we can VERIFY about the Ohio train derailment
- No, Netflix isn’t cracking down on password sharing in the U.S.
- Yes, some car insurance companies have stopped covering Hyundai, Kia models due to thefts
- No, Jackie Robinson was not the first Black man to play Major League Baseball
- Yes, you can develop myocarditis after having a cold
- No, scientists didn’t warn people that eating eggs causes blood clots
- No, Social Security recipients aren’t getting an extra $200 per month
Week of February 6
- Biden’s claim that Republicans want to sunset Medicare and Social Security needs context
- No, there’s no evidence the Super Bowl is the biggest sex trafficking event in the world
- Fact-checking President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address
- TikTok video about Prop 65 warning labels on air fryers is misleading
- No, Democrats didn’t cut $280 billion from Medicare
- No, taking vitamin C at the first sign of illness won’t help fight a cold
- Fireball Cinnamon doesn't contain whisky but still has alcohol
- No, cracking your knuckles won’t cause arthritis
- No, taking vitamin C at the first sign of illness won’t help fight a cold
- No, Damar Hamlin isn’t dead, as conspiracy theorists claim
- There’s no federal law against people collecting rainwater
- No, a government-funded food pyramid doesn’t rank Lucky Charms as healthier than steak
Week of January 23
- Bill to reduce which foods are eligible for SNAP would only affect Iowa
- No, there's not a KitchenAid mixer recall due to lead
- Yes, House Republicans introduced a bill to create national sales tax, eliminate the need for the IRS
- No, there isn’t evidence Carole Baskin’s husband has been found alive
- Yes, President Biden has released his tax returns
- Yes, vice presidents have the authority to declassify documents
- Yes, House Republicans introduced a bill to create national sales tax, eliminate the need for the IRS
- Yes, some children can receive Social Security benefits based on their parents’ earnings
- No, Wyoming is not banning electric cars
Week of January 16
- These two viral videos don’t show the fatal helicopter crash in Ukraine
- It’s a myth that we only use 10% of our brains
- No, the IRS isn’t legally required to audit the president
- No, Congress did not defund 87,000 IRS agents
- No, airlines aren’t required by law to pay for hotels and meals when your flight is canceled
- Yes, studies have linked gas stoves to childhood asthma
- No, there is not a national ban on gas stoves in the U.S.
- Yes, incarcerated workers still make license plates
Week of January 9:
Week of January 2:
Week of December 19:
Week of December 12:
- No, the ‘zombie’ virus revived from Siberian permafrost can’t infect humans
- No, your driver’s license does not need to be a REAL ID to get you on a domestic flight yet
- Yes, soup can make you feel better when you're sick
- Poinsettias’ danger to pets has long been overblown
- No, the ‘zombie’ virus revived from Siberian permafrost can’t infect humans
- No, JOANN Fabric isn’t going out of business or closing most of its stores
- No, you can’t send Christmas cards to ‘recovering American soldiers,’ as meme claims
Week of December 5:
- No, Chinese state media did not blur World Cup crowds as viral tweets suggest
- No, California is not sending out checks to all LGBTQ residents
- No, the Respect for Marriage Act doesn’t legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states
- No, Little Debbie is not going out of business
- No, it cannot be too cold to snow
- Yes, winter gas is slightly less fuel efficient than summer gas
- No, adding sugar to Christmas tree water won’t help keep it fresh
- Yes, honey can save a child's life after button battery ingestion
- No, it’s not dangerous to swim within 30 minutes of eating
Have a question you want us to answer?
Hit us up in the comments or via DM. You can also email us at questions@verifythis.com or text VERIFY to 202-410-8808 to subscribe to our daily fast facts and send a question.
The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter, text alerts and our YouTube channel. You can also follow us on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Learn More »
