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More than 70 percent of Americans who follow current events feel concerned about "fake news". Well, they have every reason to. False or misleading information can be seen everywhere—from online media to print, from TV to radio. But even if we feel overwhelmed by the number of lies we're bombarded with daily, it shouldn't discourage us from exposing them.

Luckily, some people who stumbled upon falsehoods said about them online chose to do everyone a public service and call them out. To celebrate their razor-sharp replies, members of the Quit Your BS subreddit decided to document their deeds and share the screenshots with the whole community.

From learning about your non-existent wife to seeing yourself in an ad you didn’t sign up for, take a look at some of the best posts Bored Panda has selected from this page, and upvote the ones you liked the most! If you're in the mood for more posts where people expose others' nonsense, check out our previous posts here, here, and here.

#2

Don't See Much Star Trek Content Here

Don't See Much Star Trek Content Here

thenewyorkgod Report

#3

I Guess Heroic Hollywood Really Likes That Film...

I Guess Heroic Hollywood Really Likes That Film...

PhenomenalPancake Report

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wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll never understand why people tell lies that are so easily disproved. At least lie about a dead celeb's preferences so they can't call you out on it.

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Since 2013, the Quit Your BS forum has amassed more than 1.7M members. The subreddit started when user GreenMagine shared a Facebook conversation where one person was accused of lying about getting engaged. Another user responded to the post: "I wish there was a whole subreddit for this, like r/quityourb*****it or something. Or at least I hope the trend continues." Redditor (and now moderator) Doxep replied by saying that they created a forum with that exact name.

Ever since that day, the community has been growing strong and becoming one of the main places for people to call out any type of lies, fake news, and misinformation. And from the number of posts the members share, it seems that falsehoods online get shared all too often.  

#4

Wait Wha... How... Even...

Wait Wha... How... Even...

Yearning9 Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's right. Oooh, it kills me to admit that Clarkson is right, but for once he is!

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#5

Girl Exposes Bs Account Using Her Pictures To Sell Their Product

Girl Exposes Bs Account Using Her Pictures To Sell Their Product

773202noot Report

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#6

The Mountain Calling Out An Instagram Fan Page On Their Bullsh*t

The Mountain Calling Out An Instagram Fan Page On Their Bullsh*t

_testep Report

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 64 percent of American adults said fabricated news stories were causing a great deal of confusion about the basic facts of current issues and events. They interviewed 500 people on landline telephones, and 502 on cellphones. The respondents came from different backgrounds, education levels, demographics, and had different incomes. 

While Americans are aware that these stories spread perplexity, they reveal a fair amount of confidence in their ability to detect such made-up tales. About four in ten respondents felt very certain that they can recognize fake stories, and another 45 percent felt somewhat confident. 

Generally, about a third of the US citizens confirmed they often stumble upon fabricated political news online. Pew Research Center explained that "it is difficult to measure the precise extent to which people actually see news that has been completely fabricated—given that news consumers could see but not recognize made-up news stories as well as mistake factual stories for false ones." Yet, these numbers show "a high-level sense of the public’s perception of this kind of content."

#7

Chris Hemsworth Calls Out The Daily Mail

Chris Hemsworth Calls Out The Daily Mail

NotTheReverseFlash Report

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Fat Harry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Daily Mail? LYING?! Surely not! Next you'll be telling me that bears s**t in the woods and the Pope's a Catholic!

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#8

Grandma Shuts Down The Bullsh*t

Grandma Shuts Down The Bullsh*t

ItalianGreyhounds Report

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Jon S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad it wasn't because people drove her away from streaming. I had read and believed this and my opinion of humanity had dipped accordingly.

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While some people take the time to fact-check and find out whether things we learn in the media are true or made-up, 23 percent of respondents revealed that they have shared fake news themselves. Some people did it knowingly, others explained that they only later realized that it was in fact false. "When it comes to how to prevent the spread of fake news, many Americans expect social networking sites, politicians, and the public itself to do their share," the researchers added. 

Fake news is definitely not a new threat. The term became Collins Dictionary’s word of the year in 2017 and kept popping up in the headlines ever since. While fake news exists across a variety of channels, much of the recent conversation about it involves social media platforms. 

#10

Youtuber Mkbhd Calls Out Chair Company, That Photoshopped Him On Their Ad Against His Will

Youtuber Mkbhd Calls Out Chair Company, That Photoshopped Him On Their Ad Against His Will

tasoscon Report

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Bacony Cakes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bet their chair is uncomfortable and overpriced. You just need an office chair.

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#11

Trying To Make A Celebrity Look Bad Backfires

Trying To Make A Celebrity Look Bad Backfires

pineappledipshit Report

#13

Samuel L Jackson Wasn’t Having Any Of Their Bullsh*t Tn

Samuel L Jackson Wasn’t Having Any Of Their Bullsh*t Tn

iamadeadreflection Report

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#14

Dailymail Literally Photoshops Man’s Picture To Accuse Him Of Neglecting Social Distancing With His Dad...

Dailymail Literally Photoshops Man’s Picture To Accuse Him Of Neglecting Social Distancing With His Dad...

jamescracknell Report

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Fat Harry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Daily Mail is a truly dispicable "newspaper". It's somehow found a market among nasty right-wingers and uneducated people who think reading it makes them look intelligent.

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Previously, Andrew Selepak, Ph.D., a program coordinator of Master’s in Social Media and a lecturer at the University of Florida, told Bored Panda that "everyone engages in self-image manipulation on social media. We highlight and promote our best moments while leaving out the bad or mundane." 

"Before social media, a person could tell a lie to another and then the exact opposite lie to someone else, and it is possible no one would know. But you cannot do this on social media because everyone you know finds out at once." 

He noted that the one great thing about the internet is that collectively, we can uncover falsehoods and those who spread them more than ever before. “If anything, social media may actually limit the amount of outright lying people do anymore because anything they say or post can be refuted by any and all of their followers rather than by one person,” the lecturer said. 

#15

She Met Zedd’s “Wife” In The Bathroom. Gets Called Out Directly

She Met Zedd’s “Wife” In The Bathroom. Gets Called Out Directly

Avrogadroburger Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So who's going around claiming to be that guy's wife?

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#16

Misleading Headline Called Out By Mom

Misleading Headline Called Out By Mom

Dele10 Report

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wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd argue it's more a case of just as acceptable as a cigarette. Few people are gonna complain if you drink a glass of wine in front of your kid since they're not breathing it in.

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Kimi Tomminello
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jeez, talk about having absolutely nothing better to do. Glass of wine, a joint (where it's legal), a night time sleep aid- why do we care what others are doing if it's not affecting how they conduct themselves when they have to be responsible?

hya40 avatar
Deja Katz
Community Member
2 years ago

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“why do we care what others are doing if it's not affecting how they conduct themselves when they have to be responsible?” Duh, what if whatever they’re doing DOES have an effect on their ability to be responsible?

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ZentheOgre
Community Member
2 years ago

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She looks like smell of a turtle aquarium. It's probably safer for the kids.

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Geez, all these people objecting to weed are so weird. I live somewhere it's been legal for years. Who cares? It's for adults who decide for themselves if they want to use it. It's seriously about as interesting here as shoe inserts.

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Maddie Star ⭐
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry, but she is still getting high when responsible for children. how is her reply justification for her actions?

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Jazmyn Combrink
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you have obviously not consumed the cannabis plant..... And don't be sorry, ignorance happens to us all. Educate yourself before jumping to conclusions.

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Thrasher
Community Member
2 years ago (edited)

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In my opinion, no matter the context, smoking should never be as acceptable as a glass of wine. Smoking will harm others and, wine only harms yourself.

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Oopsydaisy
Community Member
2 years ago

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I don't have children, but I never drink when I'm babysitting, and tbh, I don't think that people who are with their children on their own should. You have to be fully in charge of your senses when you care for children. If there's an emergency and you've been drinking, you might not be able to react appropriately. You also might not be able to drive. The same goes for smoking. I guess if you can stop at one small glass of wine you're ok, but realistically most people don't.

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J
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So you have to have a driver's license to have children? And own a car?

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Thenatural
Community Member
2 years ago

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People who smoke weed stink of it...and to my generation (I'm 50) it smells of loser....

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Heather Allison
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really? Because my partner and I smoke weed every day, don't smell like it at all, and have well paying careers and are successful in other ways as well. So tell me again how I'm a loser?

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Deja Katz
Community Member
2 years ago

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She looks like she smells, like most stoners.

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T.Milly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What do "most stoners" smell like? Just curious. You can't answer this because most "stoners" don't smell.

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Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago

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Drinking or drugging yourself because you hate your kids should not be acceptable

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Sofie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree, but in this case it doesn't seem like it's because she hates her kids. To unwind some people have a drink, others smoke or eat or meditate. You're not an unloving parent for needing a break sometimes. I wish my mom would've taken a break when she needed so she didn't have such a short temper with me as a child.

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#18

Apparently Homophobia = Criticism

Apparently Homophobia = Criticism

The-Alien-From-Mars Report

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wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd say even "this song is not good" isn't criticism, it's a complaint or opinion. "This song is too repetitive, it needs more variety" is closer to actually being criticism.

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Andrew Selepak mentioned that lies on social media can be intentional or unintentional. For example, when we see a story criticizing a politician or sports team we don’t like, we will probably share it because we want it to be true: "We aren’t the originator of the lie, but we are spreading it because we didn’t do our due diligence to fact check it first." 

Yet, this is not as bad as being the creator of a lie. "Politicians, internet trolls, and influencers spread lies about issues like COVID-19, their political party or the opposition, or other major political issues, to manipulate the public." Such posts are dangerous because these people have a greater reach. Thus, their lies can be further spread by individuals who want to believe they're true.

#19

X-Men Director Shuts Down Fake News Article

X-Men Director Shuts Down Fake News Article

logangraves Report

#20

Ign Does An Ign

Ign Does An Ign

Darkcrap Report

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Yort
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hi, the source ign used features Edgar Wright saying basically that he has to WANT to actually make the film, it has to be fun for him. So he didn’t literally say he might not direct it, rather ign just misinterpreted what he meant by “I have to want to make the film”

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#21

Chris O'dowd Calling Out The Daily Mirror

Chris O'dowd Calling Out The Daily Mirror

dragonballelf Report

“This is how fake news spreads,” Selepak explained. “But it can be difficult to combat fake news because as individuals we often don’t have reach as influencers. We can debunk and dispute lies, but not as many people will see it, and some might be more willing to believe the lie than the truth.” 

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We are all impacted by dishonesty on social media. Selepak provided COVID-19 as an example: "those who were telling lies that Covid was spread through 5G towers led some to take down the towers for fear over the disease." He added that people also get hurt by encountering exaggerations online. "We know that celebrities have personal trainers, personal chefs, ... and Photoshopped images they post to social media that then receive thousands if not millions of likes on their post. Social media has a way of setting cultural norms on behavior, beauty, relevancy."

#23

Jeremy Clarkson Calling Out A Fake Story

Jeremy Clarkson Calling Out A Fake Story

ivanbonadeo Report

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Kesam
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He doesn't say it didn't happen. Just that they dumped bollocks on his Range Rover instead of mushroom compost. 😄

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#25

Jj Watt Calls Out His Own Team

Jj Watt Calls Out His Own Team

I_Am_The_One_66 Report

“When people, and especially young girls, see the fake body images presented on social media as the norm and forget that what they see on social media is not real, it impacts how they see their body, the bodies of others, and what they idealize as the beauty standard,” the lecturer said. “This is unhealthy and can lead to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.”

#26

She Tried To Call Out Mrbeast

She Tried To Call Out Mrbeast

CutieMiyuki Report

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Marie Fleuris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It sounds like a stranger paid for his meal, so he never got the check.. if you don't get the check, if you don't have cash, you can't really tip.. unless you want to buy a soda or something and leave a fat tip on that receipt, but even still, some places will only let servers enter tips up to a certain percentage of the bill.

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#27

Don't Try To Bullsh*t Data

Don't Try To Bullsh*t Data

thenewyorkgod Report

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Devil's Advocate
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reading something and then immediately posting it to social media for the attention, without fact checking first...

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#28

John Stewart: No I Didnt

John Stewart: No I Didnt

scrugbyhk Report

#29

Imagine Being So Consumed By Calling Everything Fake News, That You Become One With The Fake News

Imagine Being So Consumed By Calling Everything Fake News, That You Become One With The Fake News

thenewyorkgod Report

While social media is full of dishonesty, “we cannot expect the platforms to remove all of this content, nor should we want them to. Social media should be a free speech space where ideas are debated and lies are publicly disputed,” Andrew Selepak concluded.

#30

Silent Bob Says No

Silent Bob Says No

trisw Report

#31

It's Always Nice When Media Create Fake Dramas...

It's Always Nice When Media Create Fake Dramas...

zabaaaa Report

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Charlie does cartwheels
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can we all just stop to think that this is how celeb based “news” can be completely made up and falsified, as a reminder about world changing news that matters having an equal chance of being manipulated and manufactured by people who don’t care, and who initially cater to idiots. It is then picked up by larger networks and the chain builds, and builds, and builds until there’s no truth.

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#32

Kumail “Bailed” On Sh*tty Journalism

Kumail “Bailed” On Sh*tty Journalism

krustykarbspizza Report

#34

News Outlet Clickbait

News Outlet Clickbait

sudopm Report

#36

Guy Fishes For Retweets, Gets Called Out By Official Account

Guy Fishes For Retweets, Gets Called Out By Official Account

trollszn Report

#37

Elon Musk Shuts Down Time Magazine

Elon Musk Shuts Down Time Magazine

BradGroux Report

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#39

Elon Musk Should Just Start Posting His Own Tweets Here To Be Honest

Elon Musk Should Just Start Posting His Own Tweets Here To Be Honest

astrvmnauta Report

#40

James Gunn Responds To Fake Article

James Gunn Responds To Fake Article

SuperSlothyGamer Report

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cybermerlin2000
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They already are connected. That's a really dumb article. That's like saying BREAKING NEWS! Your arm and your leg are similar because they have bones in the middle!

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Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.