The website Esspots.com published a satirical piece on January 4, 2025, which is when the erroneous claim first appeared. With a warning that read,
“Note this is satire, it’s not true,” the story, “Michael Jordan Calls for Ban on Pride Flags in Sports and Schools,” was obviously labelled as parody.
Even with this clear caveat, the allegation gained momentum and quickly disseminated on social media as if it were news.
The fictitious piece quickly lost its humorous context and went viral on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Its rapid dissemination demonstrates how readily false information can proliferate, particularly when it supports certain political viewpoints or prejudices.
How the False Claim Was Spread via Social Media In the fast-paced world of social media, where spectacular claims and headlines sometimes get more interaction than solid reporting,
