ADVERTISEMENT
Article created by: Austėja Akavickaitė

Satire is usually meant to be funny. However, it often serves a greater purpose too, providing constructive social criticism, using wit to draw attention to both particular and wider issues in society.

In the digital age, The Onion is probably the most prevalent satirical publisher—it produces articles on international, national, and local news. Even though The Onion ceased publishing its print edition in 2013, it has survived online where the company has been operating since the spring of 1996.

Occasionally, the serious, straight-faced manner in which The Onion "reports" on non-existent events, happenings, and ideas has resulted in people mistakenly thinking the stories are real news.

In fact, this started happening so often, it even gave birth to a subreddit, collecting screenshots of these gullible folks' reactions. Continue scrolling and check out some of the top posts of r/AteTheOnion, which currently has over 509K members and has started featuring reactions to satire created outside of The Onion too.

#1

One Of The Many Reasons To Hate Sea World

Satirical article claiming SeaWorld employees place orcas in plastic bags sparks online fools falling for fake news.

reddit.com Report

RELATED:
    #2

    Ate The Onion - Left The Cheetos

    Green Cheetos snack image with online comments showing people fooled by fake satirical articles and mistaking product color changes.

    reddit.com Report

    #3

    To Be Fair, It Sounds Like Something He’d Say

    Social media screenshot showing a user reacting to a satirical article featuring a fake Trump quote, highlighting fake satirical articles.

    reddit.com Report

    #4

    Poor Christians. Don’t Know What Hit Them

    Social media post showing a Starbucks cup with satanic design, highlighting fake satirical articles fooling people online.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    You Know Who Else Didn't Fight In Vietnam? Obama! Thanks Obama

    Man solemnly laying wreath at memorial, example of people falling for fake satirical articles online and making fools.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    I Don't Think I Can Trust You Though

    Satirical article about a 40-pound baby left in an incubator, showing how people fall for fake news online.

    reddit.com Report

    #7

    Paw Patrol Gets Too Real For This Atetheonioner

    Satirical article example from The Onion about Paw Patrol episode fools people online with fake news.

    reddit.com Report

    #8

    The President Ladies And Gentlemen

    Tweet showing a satirical fake article about Twitter shutting down to stop Biden news with an error message on screen.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Such Disrespect

    Social media post showing a fake satirical article about English policemen escorting Trump by motorcycle convoy.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Is There Any Part This Guy Can't Play?

    Screenshot of a fake satirical article about Christian Bale and a sandworm, shared in an online discussion about satire.

    reddit.com Report

    #11

    Wake Up And Bite The Babylon Bee

    Social media post showing people reacting to a fake satirical article about Christians and Bible registration.

    reddit.com Report

    #12

    Found One Today

    Social media post reacting to a fake satirical article about armed fans guarding a Yogi Bear statue online.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Will Do Anything For Clicks

    Tweet from The Onion satirical article about Oscar stampede causing deaths, highlighting people falling for fake satirical articles online.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Shared This On Facebook And All Of My Friends Are Freaking Out And Sending Me Frantic DM’s

    Social media post shows a colorful Beanie Baby covered in spider-like dots, fooled by fake satirical articles online.

    reddit.com Report

    #15

    What A Guy

    Social media post showing a man working with sparks, illustrating people falling for fake satirical articles online.

    reddit.com Report

    #16

    Eye Enlargement Surgery

    Screenshot of a satirical article about eye enlargement surgery with online comments falling for the fake news.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #17

    The Poster Doesn’t Quite Let The Number “42 Million” Really Sink In

    Social media post reacting to fake satirical article causing outrage and confusion online about false Black Friday tragedy.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #18

    Go Blow Your Noodle

    Man in water blowing through pool noodle with water splashing, an example of people falling for fake satirical articles online.

    reddit.com Report

    #19

    If I Worked At The Onion, My Office Would Be Full Of Framed Screenshots Like This

    Screenshot of a fake satirical article tweet about a 163-year-old man, with a user falling for the fake news online.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #20

    Idiocracy

    Tweet showing a satirical article about celebrities burning their homes, highlighting fake satirical articles fooled online.

    reddit.com Report

    #21

    I Finally Found One

    Tweet from The Onion about FEMA's fake evacuation error with a highway image, showing people fooled by satirical articles online.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #22

    That Person Who Replied Must Of Felt So Intelligent Writing That

    People falling for fake satirical articles online, debating the authenticity of a staged moon landing photo.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #23

    What Are People These Days

    News anchor presents a satirical article about Ohio replacing lethal injection, showing people fooled by fake satire online.

    reddit.com Report

    #24

    That Sweet Sweet Babylon Bee

    Portland Police satirical article fooled many online, showing how people fall for fake news and make fools of themselves.

    reddit.com Report

    #25

    My Whole Timeline Has Been Quoting This Tweet

    Tweet showing a satirical article about school dress code with a girl wearing a bulletproof vest, highlighting online satire misunderstandings.

    reddit.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda