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fake news

True or false: Did these things actually happen in 2016?

Have you been paying attention this year?
9.30pm, 30 Dec 2016
28.3k
10

2016 HAS BEEN the year of fake news.

It saw social media giant Facebook commit to addressing bogus stories from its online feed and ‘post-truth’ was even named the word of 2016.

So to honour post-truth 2016, we want to test how good you’ve become at recognising a real news story when you see one.

Have at it…

In February, the Egyptian president laid a giant red carpet out on public roads for a visit to open a social housing project.
Shutterstock
True
False
A terrifying clown was spotted in the Darndale area of Dublin and scared the life out of people.
Paul Quinn Jr
True
False
Herd of cattle stampeded through a Clare golf course, destroying ten of its greens.
Shutterstock
True
False
A UKIP MEP claimed he was attacked and hospitalised by a UKIP MEP.
Shutterstock
True
False
Katie Hopkins appeared twice on the Late Late Show and RTÉ did not receive one complaint
RTÉ
True
False
Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae wrote to the EU requesting farmers be given smartphone grants
RollingNews.ie
True
False
A priest in Carlow told a local radio station he might have to start baptising babies with church wine if a boil-water notice wasn't lifted.
Shutterstock
True
False
A mother asked the Department of Social Protection to change her child’s PPS number because it contained 666.
Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
True
False
An error in the garda PULSE system resulted in dozens of speeding tickets being issued to ambulances.
Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
True
False
Pope Francis told priests and nuns to stop "dropping gossip bombs".
Gregorio Borgia/AP/PA
True
False
A woman in Australia gave birth to twin babies that were conceived ten days apart.
Shutterstock
True
False
Louis Theroux's film was banned in Ireland due to our blasphemy laws.
Facebook
True
False
A man in Florida threw a live alligator through the window of a drive-through.
J Pat Carter AP/PA
True
False
A printing error left an Irish election candidate with thousands of leaflets with his wife's name as the candidate - under his photo.
Shutterstock
True
False
A TV channel in Albania started using almost-topless newsreaders to boost ratings.
Shutterstock
True
False
Answer all the questions to see your result!
YouTube
You scored out of !
Lois Lane
Nothing gets past you. You're always first on the scene, always on top of the scoop...
Share your result:
Sesame Street
You scored out of !
Kermit the Frog
For a muppet, you have a pretty decent grasp on reality. Well done!
Share your result:
Family Guy
You scored out of !
Trisha Takanawa
Poor, unfortunate Trisha. If it's any comfort, most of your blunders are not really your own fault.
Share your result:

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