Why do people want so badly to believe this fake story is true?

A version of this story appeared in our daily newsletter. If you’re not yet a subscriber, sign up here.

The most widely read story on our website last week was about the fake animal stories going viral on social media—the dolphins supposedly in Venetian canals and the elephants purportedly making themselves at home in a town in China, getting drunk on corn wine. (Pictured above: a real “dolphin-free” canal in Venice.)

We’re all desperate to find the light in a crisis.

Most of our readers on Facebook talking about the story were glad to learn the truth. Spreading something that’s not true—whether it’s as small as a positive story about animals or as consequential as an unproven cure for COVID-19—can make people feel even more distrustful during a time of vulnerability, social psychologist Erin Vogel told Nat Geo’s Natasha Daly.

It’s

Unlock this story for free
Create an account to read the full story and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles.

Unlock this story for free

Want the full story? Sign up to keep reading and unlock hundreds of Nat Geo articles for free.
Already have an account?
SIGN IN

Read This Next

What bacteria lurk in your city? Consult the bees.
Is melatonin giving you nightmares?
Why are these orcas killing sharks and removing their livers?

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet