Home
tech
Inside the world of fake Facebook events that dupe and disappoint people

Inside the world of fake Facebook events that dupe and disappoint people

Eric Pickersgill skyrocketed to fame after the surreal images of his project called "Removed" went viral. It shows just how weirdly focused people are on their devices instead of each other. Here's one with Pickersgill and his wife in bed, phones removed from the shot.

Inside the world of fake Facebook events that dupe and disappoint people

His project "No Show" takes on fake Facebook events. These became the rage in the middle of 2016 and mostly involved 1990's bands that were supposed to be playing at odd places in small towns.

His project "No Show" takes on fake Facebook events. These became the rage in the middle of 2016 and mostly involved 1990

Read more: What’s With All Those Fake Facebook Events in Your Feed Of Late?

Fred Durst never showed up to play at Rose's in Morganton, NC, but so many people showed up and asked about it that management posted a sign on the front door ...

Fred Durst never showed up to play at Rose

It said, "Notice - The advertisement on Facebook about Limp Bizkit concert is fake. There is no concert. MGMT."

It said, "Notice - The advertisement on Facebook about Limp Bizkit concert is fake. There is no concert. MGMT."

But that didn't stop a bunch of people from hanging out in the parking lot, still hoping that the band would show up. "The feeling was celebratory. People were just excited to have something to go to in their small town, even though it was fake."

But that didn

Bobby Canipe, the guy that sent out the fake invite, was there, and he certainly knew the event was a gag.

Bobby Canipe, the guy that sent out the fake invite, was there, and he certainly knew the event was a gag.

Not everyone at every fake event felt that way though. This guy rode his bike to "Dane Cook and Staind with special guests Seether and Trapt LIVE at the Fireworks Tent in the Kmart Parking lot in Wilmington, NC."

Not everyone at every fake event felt that way though. This guy rode his bike to "Dane Cook and Staind with special guests Seether and Trapt LIVE at the Fireworks Tent in the Kmart Parking lot in Wilmington, NC."

People were also invited to Demeter's Pizza to see "Sugar Ray w/special guests Chumbawamba" in Woodruff, South Carolina.

People were also invited to Demeter

And this girl, Zoie, couldn't help but feel disappointed that she showed up but the band didn't.

And this girl, Zoie, couldn

And no. Even though somebody on Facebook invited thousands of people to "Sears Outlet presents Lifehouse (LIVE!) with The Calling & An Opening Monologue by Nicholas Cage" in Hendersonville, TN ...

And no. Even though somebody on Facebook invited thousands of people to "Sears Outlet presents Lifehouse (LIVE!) with The Calling & An Opening Monologue by Nicholas Cage" in Hendersonville, TN ...

... it wasn't going to happen, as this guy found out.

... it wasn

As Pickersgill attended more fake events, like Nickelback LIVE at the Dollar Tree in Salsbury, NC, and talked to others who showed up, he started to realize these fake events show how trusting people are about stuff they see on Facebook. "They may not be familiar with the language that indicated this was a prank event," he said.

As Pickersgill attended more fake events, like Nickelback LIVE at the Dollar Tree in Salsbury, NC, and talked to others who showed up, he started to realize these fake events show how trusting people are about stuff they see on Facebook. "They may not be familiar with the language that indicated this was a prank event," he said.

He realized that ordinary people may not be able to detect fake stuff on Facebook, even news stories. "People may not be able to look at an Onion post headline and know it's the Onion."

He realized that ordinary people may not be able to detect fake stuff on Facebook, even news stories. "People may not be able to look at an Onion post headline and know it

No, Mudvayne will NOT be playing at Family Video in Columbia, SC. The invite was a lie, even if it was meant as a good-natured jest, just to start an online discussion.

No, Mudvayne will NOT be playing at Family Video in Columbia, SC. The invite was a lie, even if it was meant as a good-natured jest, just to start an online discussion.

"The more I engaged with fake events, the more I saw them. They started populating in my news feed. Think about it. Facebook has differentiated between these events and the real shows," he said. He saw people show up to all the fake shows. This Taco Bell in Nashville was supposedly going to host TacoFest 16 with a whole bunch of bands. But it only hosted a lot of drive through taco orders.

"The more I engaged with fake events, the more I saw them. They started populating in my news feed. Think about it. Facebook has differentiated between these events and the real shows," he said. He saw people show up to all the fake shows. This Taco Bell in Nashville was supposedly going to host TacoFest 16 with a whole bunch of bands. But it only hosted a lot of drive through taco orders.

And, it probably goes without saying, but Eagle Eye Cherry and P.O.D. did NOT play (LIVE!) at the abandoned day care building in Woodruff, SC.

And, it probably goes without saying, but Eagle Eye Cherry and P.O.D. did NOT play (LIVE!) at the abandoned day care building in Woodruff, SC.

And Morrissey did not play live at the Vienna Beef's in Chicago, either.

And Morrissey did not play live at the Vienna Beef

View Other Slidelists

Advertisement