Below are concrete, recognizable social-media examples (without repeating specific harmful false claims).

Social-media examples of the illusory truth effect (in the wild)

1) The same headline keeps resurfacing

You see the same sensational headline on your feed multiple times—shared by different accounts, sometimes with different captions.
Why it triggers the effect: Even one prior exposure can increase how accurate a headline feels later, but being aware of this can help you pause and question before accepting it as correct.

2) Screenshot recycling (“a friend sent me this”)

A claim is posted as a screenshot of a tweet, a Facebook post, or a “news clip” image—so it’s easy to repost without context.

Why it triggers the effect: Screenshots make the same statement travel repeatedly while stripping away source details—repetition drives familiarity, which boosts perceived truth.

3) “Disputed” or “context” labels… but the claim still feels true

A platform label says “disputed/false/missing context,” yet the claim keeps circulating.

Why it triggers the effect: Research on fake-news-style headlines finds repetition can still increase perceived accuracy even when items are labeled as contested.

4) Short-form video soundbites repeated across creators

You hear the same short “fact” or talking point in many TikToks/Reels/Shorts—often with different music and edits.

Why it triggers the effect: Repetition increases processing fluency (“that sounds familiar”), which people can misinterpret as credibility.

5) Meme templates that carry the same claim

A message is packaged into a meme format and spreads because it’s funny/relatable—even when it’s making an assertion.

Why it triggers the effect: Memes are engineered for repetition; repeated statements are more likely to be judged true than new ones.  [

6) “Everyone is saying…” comment-section echo

Under a post, dozens of comments repeat the same assertion (or a slight variation).

Why it triggers the effect: High-frequency repetition—especially in the same session—can inflate perceived truth because the statement becomes cognitively “easy.”

7) Algorithmic reruns: recommended content repeats themes

Even if you don’t follow a topic, recommendation systems can repeatedly show you similar claims (across different accounts, same idea).

Why it triggers the effect: The illusory truth effect doesn’t require persuasion—just repeated exposure, which increases subjective truth.

8) Influencer “echo”: many creators repeat the same talking point

A claim gets picked up by multiple influencers, which makes it feel corroborated (“independent sources!”).

Why it triggers the effect: Repetition from multiple sources increases familiarity; studies on repetition show perceived truth rises with repeated exposure.

9) Health misinformation that becomes “shareable advice.”

A health-related claim spreads because it’s actionable (“do this,” “avoid that”), especially during uncertainty (e.g., pandemics).

Why it triggers the effect: Experiments show repetition can increase the sharing of misinformation, mediated by increased perceived accuracy.

10) “I saw this on three different pages” → sharing without checking

Someone shares a claim with “Not sure if true, but I’ve seen it everywhere.”

Why it triggers the effect: Repetition can increase willingness to share by boosting perceived accuracy—even after minimal exposure.

A fast “spot-the-effect” checklist for social media

If you notice any of these cues, you’re in illusory-truth territory:

• Familiarity as the main reason: “I’ve heard this a lot.”
• Same claim, many wrappers: screenshots, memes, remixes, quote cards.
• A label doesn’t stop spreading: the claim keeps repeating anyway.
• You feel more confident on the 2nd/3rd view without new evidence.  (Truth judgments rise with repetition.)