People Are Sharing The Dumbest Myths We All Still Somehow Believe In 2026, And Yikes

Misinformation is in every single place today. We’ve all been responsible of falling for one thing that is not true, whether or not we discovered it as a half-true “fact” in the classroom as a baby or just got here throughout a wild declare whereas scrolling via social media.

Recently, Reddit consumer u/vicigoonboy69 asked“What’s the dumbest myth people actually believe in?” Here are among the most widely-accepted myths that are not truly backed up by any actual proof, or have flat-out been confirmed to be completely false:

Note: Some of those have been edited for size and/or readability.

1. “Blood is blue and only turns red when it reacts to the air.”

Pipette drips blood into a test tube in a lab rack — Manusapon Kasosod/Getty Images

TRUTH: Human blood is crimson via and thru. The blood protein hemoglobin — which carries oxygen from the lungs to different physique components — is wealthy in iron, and that iron makes it crimson. The extra oxygen is hooked up to the hemoglobin, the brighter crimson it turns into. The motive our veins may look more “blue” has to do with how pores and skin tissue absorbs and displays mild.

2. “Gum takes seven years to pass through your digestive system.”

Person putting a green piece of gum in their mouth — Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images

—u/jase24311

TRUTH: No, there’s not an enormous assortment of bubblegum sitting within the pit of your abdomen. Accidentally swallowing gum is likely to be disagreeable, however it’s essentially harmless barring any serious underlying conditions like gastroparesis (and particularly in small portions). Gum is insoluble similar to seeds, which suggests digestive enzymes are unable to interrupt it down — so as a substitute, it will simply transfer via the digestive tract after which finally flip up in your stool.

3. “We only use 10% of our brains.”

A highly detailed 3D rendering of a human brain — Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty Images

—u/GabrielaM11

TRUTH: Despite what motion pictures like Lucy (2014) would have audiences imagine, the concept we solely use 10% of our brains is totally false. “Brain scans like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) show that people regularly use all of the brain,” wrote Matthew Solan, Former Executive Editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. “Some parts may be more active at any given time or during a particular activity. But there is no part of the brain that is known to be unused or completely unnecessary.”

4. “The average person eats (x) amount of live spiders in their sleep a year.”

Silhouette of a spider against a fading sunset sky — Tobias Titz/Getty Images

—u/stephinityy

TRUTH: The concept that we swallow eight (or no matter variety of) spiders in our sleep yearly is a complete city legend. It’s most unlikely for a spider to ever find yourself in your mouth — spiders haven’t got a vested curiosity in cozying as much as people, particularly if we’re loud night breathing. “Vibrations are a big slice of spiders’ sensory universe,” Rod Crawford, the arachnid curator at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture explains, “A sleeping person is not something a spider would willingly approach.”

5. “You need to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report.”

Missing person flyer for a woman posted on a wooden pole beside a road — Stockseller_ukr/Getty Images

—u/Able_Slip_5099

TRUTH: There’s no legislation mandating a ready interval earlier than reporting somebody lacking, and the first 24-72 hours are often the most crucial. For the California Department of Justice: “There is NO waiting period for reporting a missing person. All California police and sheriffs’ departments must accept any report, including a report by telephone, of a missing person, including runaways, without delay and will give priority to the handling of the report.” Some US states have gone even additional — in 2009, “Brandon’s Law” was enacted in Minnesota, requiring legislation enforcement officers to right away take a lacking particular person’s report and open an investigation even when the particular person in query is taken into account a authorized grownup.

6. “The Great Wall of China is visible from space without equipment.”

The Great Wall of China stretches across a lush, mountainous landscape at sunrise — Zhaojiankang/Getty Images

—u/Maleficent-Rich-1127

TRUTH: Despite this delusion having persevered for hundreds of years, the Great Wall of China cannot be seen from space with the naked eye. While it is true that pictures of the landmark have been captured from the International Space Station, it is nonetheless solely attainable with correct telescope tools.

7. “‘Organic’ means no pesticides.”

Various fresh fruits, including blueberries, strawberries, and oranges — Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

—u/d84doc

TRUTH: To be honest, this one is just a little complicated. “Organic” does not inherently imply “pesticide-free” — as a substitute, it merely implies that a product meets the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP). There are many types of pesticides, together with artificial and non-synthetic substances, and never all are prohibited. According to Dr. Paul VincelliExtension Professor and Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor, University of Kentucky, the time period “organic” means “only that the product was produced according to the standards of the NOP. While organic growers are commonly committed to using limited to no pesticides, they can—and often do—use pesticides allowed under the NOP standards.”

8. “Swallowing a seed will make it grow in your stomach.”

Close-up of a watermelon with seeds — Iuliia Bondar/Getty Images

—u/theHowlader

TRUTH: Was anybody else scarred for all times by that one Rugrats episode? Luckily, a watermelon (or the rest for that matter) won’t grow in your stomach If you swallow a seed — like gum, the seed will finally simply go via your digestive system. In truth, watermelon seeds even have some added nutritional benefits!

9. “Masturbation makes you go blind.”

Blind person with a white cane stepping onto tactile paving — Anna Reshetnikova/Getty Images

—u/collisl83

TRUTH: Yeah, this one is simply pure fear-mongering. Certified sex therapist Jenni Skyler, PhD, explains“[It’s] an previous delusion made to manage the plenty with a concern that sexual arousal would trigger out-of-control behaviors and the collapse of society. on a rare occasion“Still, there is no scientific proof to recommend that masturbation particularly is inherently harmful.

10. “Sitting too close to the TV will ruin your eyes.”

Child watching a large TV screen closely — Mrs/Getty Images

—u/cg40k

TRUTH: It might not be the most effective place to chill out and binge a present, however sitting near the TV is not going to trigger long-term injury to your eyes. Per UT San Antonio’s Health Science Center“Sitting too close to a TV or computer screen will not negatively impact the eyes. It may, however, be uncomfortable for some individuals with farsightedness, or a condition in which items that are close to you appear blurry. When a child sits close to the TV, this could be a warning sign that the child has developed strabismus, a problem with eye alignment, or that the child may need glasses for nearsightedness or farsightedness.”

11. “Raw, unpasteurized milk is healthy.”

A glass jar filled with raw milk sits on a grassy lawn — Viktoriia Syvak/Getty Images

—u/MizWhatsit

TRUTH: Contrary to what RFK Jr. and a few wellness influencers might declare, there isn’t any scientific proof to recommend that uncooked, unpasteurized milk can remedy lactose intolerance, remove allergy symptoms, reduce bronchial asthma, or something of the kind. There esnevertheless, loads of proof that it is stuffed with “disease-causing pathogens.”

12. “The five-second rule.”

A fallen cupcake with blue frosting and paper wrapper upside down on the floor — Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images

—u/MeWantBigCity

TRUTH: We all heard this phrase as youngsters, proper? The widespread notion that dropped meals continues to be suitable for eating if it has been on the bottom for lower than 5 seconds is a pleasant thought, however it’s not backed up by any proof. According to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birminghammicro organism “can transfer to food the moment it touches a surface,” and “moisture significantly increases this transfer.” Bummer!

13. “You’ll catch a cold if you go outdoors in cold weather with wet hair.”

Two children splash in puddles on a rainy day — Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

—u/tryolo

TRUTH: It might not be snug to walk outdoors with moist hair on a chilly day, however doing so will not instantly trigger you to turn into sick. Per Mayo Clinic: “Viruses transmitted through bodily fluids cause colds, influenza and COVID-19. You need to come into contact with the fluids to be infected by the viruses. This usually happens when people who are sick sneeze, cough or blow their noses. Wet hair won’t make you more attractive to viruses and doesn’t increase your chances of getting sick.” However, there es proof that, should you’re already sick, Being cold can accelerate your symptoms.

14. And lastly: “Peeing on a jellyfish sting will help.”

Jellyfish floating gracefully with its tentacles — Yaorusheng/Getty Images

—u/Drawn-Otterix

TRUTH: No matter what Friends planted in our heads about this, peeing on a jellyfish sting is an entirely unhelpful solution to cope with the aid. Insteadrinse the affected space with seawater (not recent), take away any tentacles utilizing tweezers or gloves, and search medical consideration if in case you have extreme signs like respiration difficulties or belly ache.