Who is the Corn Kid?
The Corn Kid is the nickname given to Tariq, a seven-year-old boy from New York who became an internet sensation in 2022 after expressing his love for corn in a video interview. The video, posted on the Instagram page of Recess Therapy, a web series hosted by comedian Julian Shapiro-Barnum, showed Tariq eating corn on the cob and saying things like “Ever since I was told that corn was real it tasted good” and “Have a cornstastic day!” The video went viral, attracting millions of views and thousands of comments from people who found Tariq’s enthusiasm and innocence adorable and hilarious. According to NDTV Food, Tariq’s fame also earned him the title of “Corn-bassador” for South Dakota, a state known for its corn production. He was invited to visit the Corn Palace, a tourist attraction decorated with corn, and received a proclamation from the governor declaring September 3, 2022, as “Official Corn-bassador Tariq Day”.
How Did the Death Rumor Start?
The rumor that the Corn Kid had died started circulating on social media in late 2023, after a fake news article claimed that he had passed away in a car accident. The article, which appeared to be from a reputable news outlet, cited unnamed sources and provided no details or evidence to support the claim. The article was widely shared by people who either believed it or wanted to prank others. Some users also created fake tribute videos and posts for the Corn Kid, adding to the confusion and sadness of his fans.
Is the Corn Kid Really Dead?
The answer is no. The Corn Kid is alive and well, and the death rumor is a hoax. The fake news article was created by a website that generates fake news stories for entertainment purposes. The website has a disclaimer that states that its content is “satirical and fictional” and that it is “not intended to communicate any true or factual information”. The website also has a feature that allows users to create their own fake news stories by entering a headline, a description, and an image. The website is not affiliated with any real news outlet and does not have any credibility or authority.
The Corn Kid’s mother, Jessica, confirmed that her son was fine and that the rumor was false. She posted a video on Instagram showing Tariq smiling and holding a corn on the cob, and captioned it “He’s alive and still loves corn!” She also thanked the people who supported and cared for her son, and asked them to ignore the fake news and spread the truth. She said that she was shocked and hurt by the rumor, and that she hoped that people would stop spreading lies and negativity.
Why Do People Create and Share Fake News?
Fake news is a term that refers to false or misleading information that is presented as factual and credible, often with the intention of influencing people’s opinions, emotions, or actions. Fake news can be created and shared for various reasons, such as:
- To make money: Some websites create and share fake news stories to attract more visitors and generate more revenue from advertising. They use sensational headlines and images to catch people’s attention and entice them to click on the links.
- To influence politics: Some people create and share fake news stories to promote or discredit a certain political party, candidate, or agenda. They use false or distorted information to manipulate people’s views and votes.
- To cause harm: Some people create and share fake news stories to harm or embarrass a certain person, group, or organization. They use lies and rumors to damage their reputation, credibility, or image.
- To have fun: Some people create and share fake news stories for fun or as a prank. They use humor and satire to mock or ridicule a certain topic, event, or person.
How to Spot and Stop Fake News?
Fake news can be harmful and dangerous, as it can misinform, mislead, or deceive people, and cause confusion, panic, or violence. Therefore, it is important to be able to spot and stop fake news, and to prevent it from spreading. Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Check the source: Before believing or sharing a news story, check the source of the information. Look at the website’s name, domain, logo, design, and contact details. Is it a reputable and reliable news outlet, or a dubious and unknown one? Does it have a clear and transparent editorial policy, or a hidden and biased agenda? Does it have a disclaimer that states that its content is fake or satirical, or does it pretend to be real and factual?
- Verify the facts: Before believing or sharing a news story, verify the facts of the information. Look at the date, author, quotes, sources, and evidence of the story. Is it recent, relevant, and accurate, or outdated, irrelevant, and inaccurate? Is it written by a credible and qualified journalist, or an anonymous and unprofessional writer? Is it based on reliable and verifiable sources, or on hearsay and speculation? Is it supported by solid and consistent evidence, or by vague and contradictory claims?
- Compare the perspectives: Before believing or sharing a news story, compare the perspectives of the information. Look at the tone, language, and angle of the story. Is it objective, balanced, and fair, or subjective, biased, and unfair? Is it informative, educational, and factual, or sensational, emotional, and opinionated? Is it consistent and coherent with other news stories on the same topic, or inconsistent and contradictory with them?
- Think critically: Before believing or sharing a news story, think critically about the information. Ask yourself questions like: Who created and shared this story, and why? What is the purpose and intention of this story? How does this story affect me and others? Is this story too good or too bad to be true? Does this story make sense and match with my own knowledge and experience?
Conclusion
The Corn Kid is not dead, but alive and well. The death rumor is a hoax created by a fake news website for entertainment purposes. The rumor was widely shared by people who either fell for it or wanted to prank others. The Corn Kid’s mother confirmed that her son was fine and asked people to ignore the fake news and spread the truth. Fake news is a serious problem that can harm people and society. Therefore, it is important to be able to spot and stop fake news, and to prevent it from spreading. The best way to do that is to check the source, verify the facts, compare the perspectives, and think critically about the information. By doing so, we can protect ourselves and others from being misinformed, misled, or deceived by fake news.
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