1) Viral “factoids” that everyone “knows.”
Example: “We only use 10% of our brains.”
- Where you see it: social media posts, motivational talks, movie dialogue, casual conversation.
- How the effect shows up: each encounter increases familiarity, and familiarity gets misread as accuracy (“I’ve heard it a lot, so it must be true”).
- Reality check: It’s a widely repeated myth—not a scientific fact. (The key point here is how repetition boosts perceived truth.)
Why it’s a perfect illusory-truth example: It spreads because it’s catchy and repeated—not because it’s supported.
2) Health misinformation that feels “common sense.”
Example: “Vitamin C prevents the common cold.”
- Where you see it: ads for supplements, family advice, wellness blogs, product packaging cues.
- How repetition happens: repeated exposure across many contexts (ads + friends + “health tips”) increases fluency and perceived truth.
- Reality check: Researchers explicitly cite this belief as a type of misconception that can enter our knowledge base via repetition.
Big lesson: Health claims are especially vulnerable because people want simple solutions—and repeated claims start to “feel verified.”
3) Advertising claims that “sound right” after enough exposures
Example: “Toning shoes will improve your fitness.”
- Where you see it: commercials, influencer sponsorships, product pages, in-store displays.
- How the effect shows up: ads are designed for repetition; fluency rises, skepticism falls, and “it must work” becomes the default feeling.
- Reality check: This kind of consumer misconception is explicitly referenced as the kind of false claim people encounter in daily life. [
Marketing doesn’t have to prove—marketing has to repeat.
4) “Fake it till it’s true” workplace lore
Example: “Multitasking makes you more productive.”
- Where you see it: company culture talk, hustle content, management slogans, job descriptions.
- How repetition happens: it’s reinforced in meetings, performance reviews, and social norms—so it becomes the “obvious” model of work.
- Why it fits: the illusory truth effect is about repeated statements gaining a truthy feel; it doesn’t require formal propaganda—just repeated exposure and a plausible narrative.
Reality check (general): Productivity is complex; “multitasking = better” is often an overgeneralization that survives because it’s repeated.
5) Social-media “news” headlines you scroll past repeatedly
Example pattern: A dramatic headline appears on multiple accounts
- Where you see it: trending feeds, reposts, screenshots, short-form video captions.
- How the effect shows up: even one prior exposure can increase the chance someone will share the statement later, partly because repetition raises perceived accuracy.
- Reality check: The “it’s everywhere” sensation can be created by algorithms and resharing—not by truth.
Key point: Visibility is not verification.
6) Repeated “finance wisdom” that sounds authoritative
Example: “This indicator ALWAYS predicts the market.”
- Where you see it: finance influencers, newsletter hooks, simplified charts, TikTok summaries.
- How repetition happens: the same talking point is repeated with different graphics and confident delivery, increasing fluency.
- Reality check: Markets rarely obey “always” rules; these claims persist because repetition feels like consensus.
7) “Everyone says…” rumors in communities and schools
Example: “That restaurant fails health inspections all the time.”
- Where you see it: neighborhood Facebook groups, parent chats, workplace Slack channels.
- How repetition happens: a rumor gets repeated as a warning; after enough repeats, it becomes “known.”
- Why it fits: The illusory truth effect doesn’t require people to intend deception; it only requires repeated exposure that increases familiarity and perceived truth.
A quick self-check you can use in the wild
When you notice yourself thinking “I’ve heard that before”, try this:
· Do I know the source?
· Have I seen actual evidence, or only repeats?
· Would this still seem true if I saw it only once?