ADVERTISEMENT

Did you know that you can say practically anything you want online? Unfortunately, some people do exactly that. Fortunately for us, they are pretty bad liars, so when we see through their obviously farcical stories, the results can be hilarious and cringeworthy. That’s exactly the type of cringe post that Totally True Story on Instagram collects.

Some people may be trying to boost their egos by fishing for likes and compliments online. Others may be trying to get ahead or even scam readers by weaving elaborate tales.

Common sense is a useful sense to hone, especially when you spend time online. These funny little fabrications tend to be about as harmless as it gets. Your common sense can also help you see through dangerous scams, fake news campaigns, and other trickery that runs rampant in the Wild West of the Web.

To play the devil’s advocate, it could also be (however unlikely) that some of these stories are, in fact, true. Are there any where you think the internet got it wrong? Let us know in the comments below each pic!

#2

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Violet1854
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could happen. Our classes had smartboards and Wifi, and sometimes when we were tired, the teachers would stop teaching for the rest of the period and let us play a song or see a funny video on the screen though not the dancing part. Might happen if your teacher is crazy enough

View more commentsArrow down menu

Do you think these stories are nonsense or do you think they might be true? This post is a great opportunity to hone your common sense and "BS radar" to see whether you can see through sketchy online stories. But do you think that being online makes people lie more or less?

On the one hand, anonymity and distance may provide cover for people to feel like they can get away with more. On the other, the potential for your message to be seen by hundreds or even millions means you're much more likely to be held accountable. It turns out that that's exactly what the experts say - it depends.

#4

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

pupsmuggler , wailtothethief Report

Add photo comments
POST
Amelia Schroeder
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How f*****g ripped must op be. Each of her individual muscles must be bigger than my head (if she was real ofc)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Yeet_girl360
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, believable. My sister worked at a fast food place, and this guy rolled up with a condom on his head and wouldn't accept his food till he was called daddy. Ya'll they were 16- 20 years, he had to have been 60. They banned his card so he couldn't order again.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Much like with real-world relationships, our willingness to lie depends greatly on our environment and our relationship with the people we're talking to. "We find that communication in the inside world tends to be more honest online, and this is in part because those messages are recorded and come from people that we will have future interactions with. We don’t want a reputation as a liar, and it’s easier in some ways to get caught in a lie online (just ask any politician caught in a scandal in the last decade)," Jeff Hancock, a professor of communication, told Stanford magazine.

So why is it that we sometimes feel like it's easier to tell fibs on the internet? Well, for one, there's the fake news we can sometimes be bombarded with, which will shake our trust in the information we see online. But how about when we read something from individuals instead of news sources?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Hancock explained when people might be more likely to lie online: "Communication from the outside world, however, is from sources that we’re unlikely to engage with again, and so there are little to no reputation costs for people to lie online. These lies include sock puppets [false identities], follower factories, purchased likes, propaganda bots and fake news. So, the degree to which we can trust messages online is really the degree to which you know the source."


#11

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Piper
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a conflict here and she would not be able to represent the wife without the husband agreeing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

younger-than-the-soul , a-fragile-sort-of-anarchy: Report

Add photo comments
POST
General Anaesthesia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What happened to the days when you started by trading a thumb tack for an elastic band and kept trading all the way up to a house with a swimming pool?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Dodo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plausible. Teacher has had time to hone his icebreaker.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory , heatherleigh02 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Loveyiii
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to thank you for not referring to the baby boomer as "Karen". That is my given name and cringe every time I see a video or read a story naming the jerk of the story "Karen". Kudos for tipping the teen, I am sure it made their day and in turn ruining it for the bully boomer.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

rogha , youtube-feels Report

Add photo comments
POST
MissMePhoenix
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can actually believe this...after some of the things my son has gotten into trouble for saying at school....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

However, it all comes back to the motivations guiding the person behind the screen. Use your common sense - if it's too good to be true, it probably is. It is then quite likely that someone's trying to pull a fast one over you or, at the very least, boost their own ego.

Hancock explains: "It’s easy to forget, but (most) people lie for a reason, and simply because a person is using a phone or a computer or a tablet to communicate doesn’t make them more or less likely to lie. Instead, it’s all about goals and motivations."

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Freeasabird
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a teacher that said, the war of independence was won by the British, on account they were fighting themselves (forgone conclusion) and they were only American after the fight was finished. The joke roll continued until the end of the lesson 😂

View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Original Bruno
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Everybody clapped" = I don't believe it. "I was the only person who laughed at it" = been there, done that. I had a bad habit of making jokes at random strangers because the situation cracked me up, but I learned the hard way that often, once the second someone isn't sure that you're joking, their ability to process a joke is 100% irretrievably gone.

kansasmagic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would do something like this. What makes it believable is that nobody else joined in.

boone williams
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True story: Whoopi Goldberg took her stage name because of her extreme flatulence. (Her friends called her "the human whoopee cushion")

ObsidianAce_
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My partner for a science assignment on atoms and elements made a Michael Jackson joke (helium) and did this same thing- I had to explain it to the teacher because she didn’t get it and he was laughing too hard

No Clue
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's hilarious though, I can't believe nobody else laughed! Maybe because it's been so long since I was an eighth-grader. 😆

Mary Bricklin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can believe this one. 8 graders are stupid and silly enough to do this.

Henry Shane
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup can totes see some teach putting this on and thinking its funny.

DrBronxx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. 5 minutes. Riiiight. Also, you were the only one laughing because it's not really that funny.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cat Chat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But the money saved there goes to ER bills. We were on a hike with Mom and blind step-Dad. There was a tree branch sticking out that slanted up close to a 90°angle. Mom was under the higher side. Not needing to duck for herself, she was so distracted by the scenery she didn't think to move over or have him duck. Whack, dead center into the branch. It does give us a good laugh now, though (wasn't seriously hurt, thank goodness).

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#24

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

jackcutieye , actionables Report

Add photo comments
POST
SadieCat17
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like this is only unrealistic to introverts lmao. This is relatively normal extrovert behavior, at least to me. I would totally flirt with someone by asking them to teach me how to make pancakes.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Emma S
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately, I can believe these ones. There are some abusive, delusional, control freak mother's out there that will do and say terrible things to their own children. I sadly know from personal experience.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
kansasmagic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's okay, though, because Anonymous is obviously a serial killer and uses the dog to lure unsuspecting young men into her suburban home of death. True story.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

his-forever-girl , narutowiener Report

Add photo comments
POST
Xenon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A soldier got charged for it for getting a severe sunburn. Urban legend amongst soldiers I imagine.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
bread lord
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this happened I was the security guard 💯💯 edit: omg this comment blew up I'm crying laughing at the replies

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#32

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Yeet_girl360
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Speaking of being allergic to things... Just two weeks ago I found out I'm allergic to ants(just like my mom). I looked like a fricking balloon. It took two days for the swelling to go down and I was still left with the itchy bug bite. Yuck. It is literally the only thing I know that I'm allergic to.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

seventh-fantasy , interstellarsentience Report

Add photo comments
POST
Arunika R.
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This could be true too. I've read a lot of fanfiction and some of them are my emotional support stories I go back to every once in a while

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
UselessKnowledgeFont
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I need to look this up. Was it all of the Caribbean or "just" Puerto Rico? Also given PR's government corruption and who was president of USA, I don't doubt that quite a bit is still not fixed

View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
UncleRussian
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The most unbelievable part about this story is the beginning. You see, I work in a car parts, repair and service store and I know for a fact that not all batteries are the same. If I had to guess a tractor battery is pretty big and beefy and it would certainly not fit into most cars, but what's even worse is that it probably doesn't even have the right voltage! All car batteries are different, you put one in that is too low or too high in voltage, that'll f**k up your car

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ty Stratton-Quirk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Hello, and welcome to Standing Up school...I have failed all of you as an educator."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

mew-loves-you , radioirwin Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ben
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah Nerf darts don't leave bruises. That is the whole point of Nerf.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#43

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

screaminteen , vanehwasreal Report

Add photo comments
POST
Adam Zad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could miss an exit in Alaska and still stay in the same state for three days. If they cut Alaska in half, Texas would be the THIRD-biggest state.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
SadieCat17
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um a 13 year old acting like a decent human being? Fake news. (Meant to add /s, know some lovely children myself)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

blogginsshirebound , inabasket Report

Add photo comments
POST
B.Nelson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is possible. My sister had conversations with people when she was asleep. She once stated that she got me a pink flamingo umbrella for Christmas.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#50

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
David Martin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then the old lady was attacked by members of a rising third gang and went into the hospital in a coma, and the two heads of the existing rival gangs put their differences aside to team up "For Grandma!" and took down the new gang. Then they realized they were actually the same all along, and the gang wars stopped, and the old lady woke up. And the credits start to roll over a freeze frame of the former gang leaders hugging it out because this sounds suspiciously like the first half of a movie from the 80s

View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

bangaarang , mamayuuma: Report

Add photo comments
POST
digitalin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know that that's a joke and all, but fun fact: a lot of people in the US do prefer Coke made in Mexico because the formula is different -- it's made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup or something. It comes in glass bottles and says "Hecho en Mexico" and sometimes it's hard to find.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#54

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nizumi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Give him a break - he's only college humor, not post-graduate humor.

#55

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Where's_My_Adderall
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as a Slytherin, I call bull. it would be a backhanded compliment, or something snarky.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#56

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Samyan Elrod
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Come on guys, pls leave some customary witty comments on this one. I feel so alone.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#57

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Arunika R.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What kind of school you all went to? My art teacher simply gave a premade painting for us to recreate

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
digitalin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This totally could have happened. I had labor contractions for 48 hours and during that first day my doula made me walk around the block and get coffee. My water hadn't broken yet, though. It's not always like the movies. And sometimes they don't let you eat at the hospital, so stopping for pancakes makes sense.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Max Fox
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most colleges have a minimum number of credits that a student has to take in all core subjects for a student to be accepted. In the past, requirements were lower, and many students started college without finishing high school. My father did that, but that was in the 1950s.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#64

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mimi777
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember an a*****e teacher in middle school who would make b****y and rude comments to the girls. Boldly tell them they could lose a few pounds or that they looked like a clown with so much makeup on.

#67

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Xenon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no idea what mcr is or why this is supposed to be funny.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#68

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
#70

Fake-Internet-Stories-Screenshots

totallytruestory Report

Add photo comments
POST
Debby Keir
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was *so* proud, but my senility means I can't remember what she said either.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda