Viral video of what appears to be a kinetic sculpture — featuring rotating hands perfectly synchronized with holes in a swinging pendulum — is actually digital artwork. But it is repeatedly shared out of context by social media accounts seeking to build a large following. Let’s take a look at the facts.
NewsLit takeaway
Photos and video purporting to capture “amazing” aspects of the natural world — everything from supposedly cute or unusual animals and stunning (but fake) space photos to incredible (and non-existent) geological formations and feats of physics — often go viral. After all, how tempting is it to “like” a video of fast tortoises or other seemingly incredible aspects of nature? But be aware that these types of photos and videos are commonly used as “engagement bait” by accounts seeking to build up large social media followings at all costs, even when it means passing off digital fakes as genuine.
Here is a full copy of the video:
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