Who is the Corn Kid?
The Corn Kid is a seven-year-old boy named Tariq who became an internet sensation after a video of him expressing his love for corn went viral on social media. The video was posted by Recess Therapy, a YouTube channel that features children with special needs and their stories. In the video, Tariq says:
“Ever since I was told that corn was real, it tasted good. But when I tried it with butter, everything changed. I love corn!”
The video has amassed over 3.3 million views on YouTube and over 1.9 million on Instagram. A version of the video shared on TikTok has more than 23 million views. Tariq’s enthusiasm and passion for corn have won the hearts of many people, who have created memes, songs, and edited videos based on his clip.
How did the rumor start?
The rumor that the Corn Kid was shot and killed in a gang-related incident started circulating online after a fake news article was shared on Twitter. The article had the headline:
“7-year-old ‘corn kid’ found dead last Sunday in gang-related shooting.”
The article claimed to be written by Dustin Jones for NPR News and had a photo of Tariq with a corn cob in his hand. However, the article was a hoax, as it was edited from an original article that had a different headline and content. The original article was titled:
“Meet South Dakota’s new corn-bassador, a boy who recently found out that corn is real.”
The article talked about Tariq’s journey as a social media star and his visit to South Dakota, where he was named as the state’s “corn-bassador” by Governor Kristi Noem. The article also mentioned that Tariq had appeared in a Chipotle commercial and had received gifts and messages from celebrities and fans.
The fake news article was deleted shortly after it was posted, but not before it had spread to other platforms and caused confusion and panic among Tariq’s followers. Many people expressed their shock and sadness over the alleged death of the Corn Kid, while others questioned the authenticity of the report.
How was the rumor debunked?
The rumor was debunked by several sources, including Recess Therapy, the YouTube channel that posted the original video of Tariq. Recess Therapy posted a video on Instagram showing Tariq alive and well, eating corn and smiling. The caption read:
“Corn kid is alive! Please stop spreading rumors that he is dead.”
Recess Therapy also thanked everyone for their support and love for Tariq and asked them to report any fake news or hate comments.
Other sources that debunked the rumor were Sportskeeda, HITC, and Dexerto which are websites that cover pop culture and entertainment news. These websites explained how the fake news article was created and how it differed from the original one. They also provided evidence that Tariq was still alive and enjoying his fame as the Corn Kid.
Why did someone create the hoax?
It is not clear who created the hoax or what their motive was. Some possible reasons could be:
- To gain attention or views by exploiting a popular topic.
- To troll or prank people by making them believe something false.
- To harm or discredit Tariq or Recess Therapy by spreading negative or false information about them.
- To test people’s gullibility or critical thinking skills by seeing how they react to fake news.
Whatever the reason, creating such a hoax is unethical and irresponsible, as it can cause emotional distress, misinformation, and confusion among people. It can also damage the reputation and credibility of legitimate sources of information.
How can we avoid falling for such hoaxes?
Fake news and hoaxes are common on the internet, especially on social media platforms where information can be easily manipulated and shared. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant and critical when consuming online content. Some tips to avoid falling for such hoaxes are:
- Check the source of the information. Is it a reputable or credible website or organization? Does it have a clear author or contact information? Does it have any spelling or grammatical errors?
- Check the date of the information. Is it recent or outdated? Does it match with other sources or events?
- Check the evidence of the information. Does it have any supporting facts, data, or images? Are they verifiable or reliable? Do they match with other sources or events?
- Check the logic of the information. Does it make sense or have any inconsistencies? Does it have any bias or agenda? Does it appeal to emotions or opinions?
- Check other sources of information. Are there any other websites or organizations that confirm or contradict the information? What do they say about it? How do they differ from each other?
By following these tips, we can reduce the chances of being fooled by fake news and hoaxes and increase our awareness and knowledge of the truth. We can also help others by reporting or correcting any false or misleading information that we encounter online.
