A viral TikTok post purports to provide proof that the April 8 solar eclipse is a harbinger of end-times — or end of humanity — but it is based on a falsehood about the actual path of the event. Let’s look at the facts.
NO
The path of a total solar eclipse on April 8 will not pass through eight cities named Nineveh.
YES
Just two such cities named Nineveh— Nineveh, Indiana, and Nineveh, Ohio — will experience the total solar eclipse, which obscures the sun.
Nineveh is a city named in the Bible and is frequently referenced in conspiratorial claims about the apocalypse.
The takeaway
Searching for coincidences is a surefire way to find them. And when the facts don’t fit perfectly, conspiracy theorists sometimes simply invent their own.
Conspiratorial thinking often involves false connections that may seem “mind-blowing,” as expressed in the video, but those connections quickly fall apart upon further scrutiny, like the claim about a total eclipse passing through eight cities named Nineveh. Conspiracy theories flourish when they touch on topics not everyone fully understands, and people can be more susceptible to embracing false explanations. Taking time to learn about a subject through credible sources reduces the chances of falling for conspiracy theories.
As April 8 approaches, expect to see more conspiratorial rumors. Grifters, conspiracy theorists and purveyors of disinformation frequently target events that draw widespread attention, especially when those events are rare or seem connected to ancient history.
The five factors
We’ve determined that this viral rumor is misleading or false based on its failure to pass the following credibility factors. Please note that these factors do not represent degrees of falsehood. A post that fails a single factor is generally just as false as a post that fails all five.
Source: Has it been posted or confirmed by a credible source?
No, this claim originated with an ordinary TikTok account, not an authoritative or standards-based source. Learn how to check sources.
Evidence: Is there evidence that proves the claim?
No, the evidence shows that the path of totality does not cover eight cities named Nineveh in the U.S. and that one of the cities is actually in Canada. Learn how to check for evidence.
Context: Is the context accurate?
No. This claim was presented without proper context. Only two such cities named Nineveh are in the eclipse path, and nearly every city in the United States (excluding some in Alaska) will have at least a partial view. Learn about context.
Reasoning: Is it based on solid reasoning?
No. Conspiratorial claims about the apocalypse are common, but there’s no evidence or logical reason to expect the arrival of the end of times. Learn how to check reasoning.
Authenticity: Is it authentic?
Not applicable.
The digital age has made creating, sharing and accessing information easier than ever before, but it’s also made it easier to manipulate and fabricate everything from social media posts to photos, videos and screenshots. The ability to determine whether something you see online is genuine, or has been doctored or fabricated, is a fundamental fact-checking skill. Learn about authenticity.
This article originally appeared in Rumor Guard from the News Literacy Project and is republished here with permission. Read the original post.
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