Pepe the frog, success baby, and other popular meme icons have become popular symbols in pop culture. These immensely impactful symbols are the effects of a long chain of the telephone game, and the power of the internet. In an article written by Shaydanay Urbani and Nancy Watzman, called "Local collaboration is key to slowing misinformation" it is outlined how many aspects of culture and society are started via local rumors and misleading photos. More specifically, aspects of misinformation are spread this way. They conducted a study in many states focused on the spread of harmful information in battleground election states. They found one pattern that persisted in every state portraying that "the most damaging misinformation narratives started as local rumors, memes, and misleading photos" (Urbani). From inflammatory false remarks regarding the governor of Michigan being posted to Facebook groups, to voting conspiracies showing up on QAnon websites, the theme that persisted was that all started as small local rumors.
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