Every February, people online insist that greeting card companies invented Valentine's Day. Though its history is shrouded in mystery, the holiday's origins stretch back centuries — long before Hallmark existed.

This Snopes article debunks the myth that greeting card companies invented Valentine's Day, explaining that the holiday predates commercial cards by centuries. The origins of Valentine's Day are shrouded in mystery, with various theories including links to Lupercalia, the execution of Christian martyrs, and the influence of Geoffrey Chaucer. While greeting card companies did not create the holiday, they played a significant role in shaping its modern traditions.

There's no evidence that countries outside the U.S., including France, have access to unredacted Epstein files or have released them. The images circulating online with claims that they come from these files show signs of AI generation.

In February 2026, a claim circulated online that countries outside the U.S., such as France, released unredacted images from the U.S. Department of Justice's files on deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that it did not share the files with any nation, and the images circulating online were likely generated using artificial intelligence.

❌ This image doesn't show Epstein with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. It's a fake created by a parody account.

This article from Snopes.com debunks a viral claim that a photo shows U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries with the late Jeffrey Epstein. The image, which originated from a parody and satire account, was confirmed to be AI-generated. Snopes emphasizes the importance of verifying AI-generated content and notes that major news outlets would have reported on such a significant story if it were true.

People online claim a receipt for a Wayfair order totaling $8,453 that appeared in the Epstein files confirms the online retailer participated in child sex trafficking. We found the charge was for 25 ordinary home goods items, not a single mysterious purchase. That's not true. ❌

In early February 2026, social media users claimed an emailed receipt in sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's case files confirmed Wayfair participated in child sex trafficking. However, Snopes debunked this conspiracy theory, revealing that the receipt was for a legitimate order of 25 items, including bathroom decor and furniture, totaling $8,453. The email was sent to Karyna Shuliak, Epstein's last girlfriend and the prime beneficiary in his trust.

Some users claimed Bad Bunny wore a bulletproof vest at the 2026 Grammys. We found the rumor was based on interpretations of his designer outfit, lacking factual support.

This Snopes article investigates the rumor that Bad Bunny wore a bulletproof vest at the 2026 Grammys, fueled by speculation based on his tailored tuxedo. However, the article concludes that the rumor is unfounded, as the singer wore a custom Schiaparelli haute couture outfit with dramatic tailoring, not protective body armor.

❌ No, ICE officers didn't illegally arrest civil rights attorney Sandra May Watkins in her own driveway. Here's how we know the story is AI slop.

Snopes.com debunks a false claim that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested civil rights attorney Sandra May Watkins in her driveway in early 2026. The story, which originated on a Facebook page known for posting fictional stories, contained inconsistencies and signs of being AI-generated. Snopes found no evidence of such an incident and concluded the claim to be false.

❌ No, Karoline Leavitt didn't announce a permanent ban on CNN, calling it a “radical leftist propaganda brainwashing machine."

A rumor circulated online in late January and early February 2026 that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced a permanent ban on CNN, calling it a 'radical leftist propaganda brainwashing machine.' However, this claim originated from a satirical account and there is no evidence to support it.

✅ Yes, women in Allied countries wore red lipstick to protest Hitler during World War II. Here's why.

During World War II, women in Allied countries wore red lipstick as a symbol of defiance against Adolf Hitler, who disapproved of bold makeup and considered it un-German. This act of defiance became a cultural statement and even influenced the creation of new lipstick brands, such as Victory Red and Montezuma Red.

❌ No, this image doesn't authentically show Zohran Mamdani and his mom with Epstein, Clinton, Gates, Bezos and Ghislaine Maxwell. Here's the truth.

An image circulated online claiming to show New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his mother, Mira Nair, with Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Ghislaine Maxwell. However, Snopes.com verified that the image is AI-generated and satirical, originating from a parody account.

Since 2024, FAFSA has included subcategories for White and other racial or ethnic backgrounds. This approach was supported by both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration.

FAFSA has included subcategories for white applicants, such as German, Irish, or Italian, since 2024. This change aims to gather more detailed race and ethnicity data to better understand students' needs and provide targeted support. Higher-education policy researchers support this data collection, and respondents can choose 'prefer not to answer' if they prefer not to disclose their background.

❌ Brooklyn Beckham reportedly claimed that his mom, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, "hijacked" his first dance at his wedding. But these images being shared as proof are fake. Here's how we know.

This Snopes.com article investigates claims that photos circulating online show Victoria Beckham dancing inappropriately at her son Brooklyn's wedding to Nicola Peltz. The photos, which were digitally altered using AI tools, do not provide evidence of the alleged incident. Brooklyn Beckham accused his mother of hijacking his first dance, but Snopes could not independently verify this claim.

Posts online claim 130,000 people without legal immigration status live in Minnesota, compared with 2.1 million in Texas and 1.6 million in Florida. That's mostly true. Here's what the data show.

Snopes.com fact-checked the claim that there are significantly fewer undocumented immigrants in Minnesota compared to Texas and Florida. According to 2023 data from the Pew Research Center, there are approximately 130,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota, 1.6 million in Florida, and 2.1 million in Texas. These figures are based on credible population estimates but are likely undercounts due to underreporting. The data does not reflect the most recent conditions but is the most recent available.

After TikTok in the U.S. changed ownership, a rumor spread that its new terms of service allow the app to collect sensitive user information, including immigration status. That's true — but it isn't new. The app has tracked this type of data for a while.

TikTok's new terms of service and privacy policy, effective January 2026, have raised concerns about the app's data collection practices, including sensitive information such as immigration status and gender identity. Snopes confirmed that the claims about TikTok's new data collection practices were accurate, as the updated terms explicitly mention the collection of sensitive personal information. However, TikTok has been collecting such information since 2024. The new terms also include additional data collection practices, such as the collection of precise location data and the use of AI bots. The new ownership of TikTok, a consortium of investors including Oracle, has raised further concerns about data privacy and security.

Some members of the Trump administration painted Alex Pretti as a violent instigator because he was carrying a loaded gun while protesting. But licensed gun owners can do so under both Minnesota state law and federal law.

This Snopes article fact-checks claims about Minnesota's gun laws in the context of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. It clarifies that Minnesota law allows licensed gun owners to carry loaded firearms in public spaces, including at protests, contrary to statements made by Trump officials.

Some people on social media have spread warnings that ICE may access Ring doorbell cameras to use them as surveillance tools through the security technology company Flock. We investigated. Here's what we found.

This article from Snopes.com analyzes the claim that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can use Ring doorbell cameras as mass surveillance tools via the security technology company Flock. While some social media users spread warnings about ICE potentially accessing Ring videos through Flock, both companies have stated that the partnership does not allow ICE agents to access Ring users' footage. Flock has also stated that it does not share customer data with any entity without their permission and does not grant access to customer data without a customer's explicit choice and control. However, the article notes that because we cannot definitively rule out that ICE doesn't have and will never have some way to access the doorbell footage of Ring customers, Snopes is not giving this claim a rating.

✅ Yes, a Craigslist ad offered people $50 to see 'Melania' movie in Boston. Here's what we know.

In late January 2026, a rumor circulated about a Craigslist ad offering $50 and free movie tickets to viewers of a documentary about U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Snopes confirmed the ad's existence but could not verify its legitimacy or the identity of the person behind it. The ad promised free tickets and $50 per seat occupied, with the condition that viewers must remain seated for the film's duration. Later updates indicated the promotion was canceled due to legal advice regarding campaign finance laws.

People on social media claimed that Congress passed a law giving the government the power to use a "kill switch" to "remotely shut down your vehicle." That's misleading. Here's what actually happened.

In January 2026, a rumor circulated that Congress had passed a law allowing the government to remotely shut off vehicles, but this claim is mostly false. In 2021, Congress passed a law requiring automakers to install technology that can prevent or limit vehicle operation if impaired or drunken driving is detected. However, the legislation does not give the government control over this technology. The claim originated from a failed 2026 effort to block this 2021 law, which was championed by safety groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Posts claim these were inventor Nikola Tesla's last words: "All these years that I had spent in the service of mankind brought me nothing but insults and humiliation." But there's no evidence that's true.

Snopes.com investigated claims that a post on social media showed Nikola Tesla's last words before his death in 1943. The posts claimed Tesla's final message to his mother was that his years of serving mankind brought him 'nothing but insults and humiliation.' However, no evidence supports the authenticity of Tesla's alleged last words. The claim originated from a letter that Tesla allegedly wrote to his mother, but the quote did not appear online before 2015. A Serbian fact-checking organization concluded that the letter was not authentic due to numerous illogicalities and inconsistencies.

Minnesota law enforcement used a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to amplify dispersal orders at an anti‑ICE protest. Officials say it wasn't used in a "deterrent setting" intended to cause bodily harm, but some people closest to it may have still felt pain.

In January 2026, the Minnesota State Patrol used a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to announce an unlawful assembly during a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The LRAD, which can cause bodily harm at high volumes, was used only for the announcement and not as a sonic weapon. The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed it did not use the device to inflict harm, contrary to some social media claims.

❌ After federal immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, some people shared an image claiming to show him helping two disabled veterans during a physical therapy session. But it's AI-generated. Here's how to spot the signs.

An image claiming to show ICU nurse Alex Pretti assisting two disabled veterans during a physical therapy session was determined to be fake, created using an AI tool. Snopes investigation found no evidence to support the image's authenticity, and AI-detection tools had inconsistent results.

✅ Yes, typing "http://nazis.us" into a web browser redirects to the Department of Homeland Security's official website, as some posts claim. Here's what we discovered about the domain's ownership.

In mid-January 2026, the domain 'nazis.us' redirected to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official website. Snopes verified the claim and discovered that the domain was registered by Mark Davis, a candidate for Congress in Florida's 16th District. Davis acknowledged purchasing the domain and encouraged donations to his campaign.

"Libs of tiktok" trying to get people fired for their believes? Is this true?

❌ Some social media users shared this image that supposedly shows Ilhan Omar with her suspected attacker, claiming it proves the attack was staged. But the image is fake and actually comes from a parody account.

This article from Snopes debunks a fake image claiming to show Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar posing with her alleged attacker, Anthony Kazmierczak. The image was digitally created using Google AI tools and originated from a parody account on X. The image spread on social media as a baseless conspiracy theory about the incident being staged. Authorities confirmed that the image was not authentic and that Kazmierczak faces charges for assaulting Omar with apple cider vinegar.

❌ Trump didn't post that "Melania," a documentary about his wife, would be mandatory viewing in all history classes. We inspected the image and found several red flags.

This article from Snopes.com debunks a rumor that U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that the movie 'Melania,' a documentary about his wife, would be mandatory viewing in all history classes. The image circulating online was digitally altered and did not match any posts on Trump's actual Truth Social account.

❌ An online rumor claims authorities with ICE, the FBI and the DEA arrested more than 5,000 cartel members as part of a Minneapolis campaign named Operation Iron North. That never happened.

In January 2026, a false rumor circulated online claiming that federal authorities arrested over 5,000 cartel members in Minneapolis as part of Operation Iron North. Snopes investigated and found no credible sources reporting on such an operation. The rumor was likely generated by artificial intelligence to create inflammatory content for advertising revenue.

Snopes readers asked us to verify the authenticity of new videos that reportedly show an altercation between Alex Pretti and federal agents more than a week before his killing. Here's how we confirmed they are real

Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, videos surfaced showing a confrontation between Pretti and federal agents 11 days prior. The footage, confirmed authentic by Snopes and Pretti's family, depicts Pretti spitting on and attacking agents, while carrying a gun in his waistband. The incident raises questions about the officers' actions and the circumstances leading up to Pretti's death.