Fact check: Claim of Twitter ban for Greta Thunberg is satire

Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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The claim: Elon Musk banned Greta Thunberg from Twitter

A March 8 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) features an article about Twitter CEO Elon Musk and climate activist Greta Thunberg.

"Just in: Elon Musk bans Greta Thunberg from Twitter," reads the article's headline.

The post garnered more than 100 shares on the first day. Similar versions of the post have been shared on Facebook.

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Our rating: Satire

The article is satirical – and labeled as such. Thunberg's Twitter account is still active.

Article created as satire

The story was originally published on March 7 on a website called "SpaceXMania."

A satire label is at the top of the article, and the last line of the article reads, "Disclaimer: This is satire, not real news." The website also includes a separate page with a disclaimer about its satirical articles.

"Please note that some of the articles on this website are satirical in nature and are not meant to be taken seriously," says the disclaimer. "These articles are meant to be humorous and are often entirely made up."

Elon Musk talks virtually to UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi during the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.
Elon Musk talks virtually to UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi during the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

The reposted version shared on Facebook drops the label up top but retains the satire disclaimer at the bottom.

Fact check: Altered video put words, literally, in Musk's mouth. He is not buying Meta.

Thunberg's Twitter account is still active.

USA TODAY reached out to the users who shared the post for comment.

Lead Stories debunked this claim as well.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Claim of Twitter ban for Greta Thunberg is satire