An “amazing” viral video of turtles running in a circle isn’t authentic — it’s computer-generated digital artwork. Let’s take a look at the facts.

Here is a full copy of the video:

NewsLit takeaway

Photos and video purporting to capture “amazing” aspects of nature — especially those that feature unusual or cute animals — often go viral. After all, how tempting is it to “like” a video of fast tortoises or other surprising or adorable animals? 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.

• “Speedy Tortoise Video is Digital Art” (Dan Evon, Snopes).
• “Does a Video Show Baby Giraffes Frolicking in a Park?” (Dan Evon, Snopes).