The Internets Biggest Lie...

Summary

In 2012, two UK students started a harmless prank by falsely claiming to be the inventor of the electric toaster, Alan McMasters, and posted the lie on Wikipedia. The hoax grew uncontrollably, spreading through news outlets, school projects, and even social media, with people celebrating McMasters for his ‘invention’. Over the years, the myth became so widely believed that it almost landed on a British banknote. The prank highlights how misinformation can snowball on the internet, even in trusted sources like Wikipedia, and underscores the power of online communities in spreading falsehoods.

Takeaways

• 😀 Two students from the UK started a prank in 2012, claiming Alan McMasters invented the electric toaster.
• 😀 The hoax gained widespread attention over the years, turning Alan McMasters into a fabricated historical figure.
• 😀 The hoax spread through Wikipedia, with people believing it due to manipulated photos and fabricated details.
• 😀 Media outlets like the BBC and the Washington Times perpetuated the toaster invention story, further spreading the lie.
• 😀 School presentations, museums, and even TV shows referenced Alan McMasters as the toaster inventor for years.
• 😀 Despite the prank, the story was taken seriously by many, including British institutions and bread companies.
• 😀 The hoax even led to Alan McMasters being nominated for inclusion on the British 50-pound note in 2018.
• 😀 The two students who started the prank continued to watch as their lie escalated beyond their expectations.
• 😀 Alan McMasters, the real person, turned out to be a 30-year-old aerospace engineer, not the inventor of the toaster.
• 😀 The prank was eventually uncovered in 2020, with the hoax being debunked and the Wikipedia page removed.

Q & A

What was the original lie started by the two students in 2012?

The two students created a hoax claiming that the world would end in 2012, which was a harmless prank that spiraled into something much larger.

How did the hoax about the 2012 apocalypse escalate?

The lie escalated as various schools, museums, and even TV shows began referencing it. Over time, it grew into one of the most widely believed hoaxes on the internet.

What connection did the hoax have with British currency?

The hoax even made it to the point where there was a proposal to put the name of Alan McMasters, the fake inventor of the toaster, on the British £50 note.

How did the two students, Alex and Adam, become involved in this hoax?

Alex and Adam, both university students, decided to edit a Wikipedia article claiming Alan McMasters was the inventor of the electric toaster. Their creation was accepted by Wikipedia and eventually spread to various sources.

Why did the Wikipedia article about Alan McMasters gain traction?

The article, filled with fabricated details and even a photoshopped image, went unnoticed by Wikipedia editors and gained traction because it appeared genuine. It was picked up by multiple news outlets and spread as factual information.

How did the students create the fake photo of Alan McMasters?

They took a modern photo of Alex, edited it with Photoshop by adding sideburns and an old-fashioned tiara, then applied black-and-white filters to make it look like a 19th-century portrait.

What role did misinformation and fake sources play in the hoax's spread?

The misinformation was propagated as more websites and sources began referencing the fake Wikipedia article. The repeated citations created a loop, further embedding the hoax in people's minds.

What unexpected outcome occurred in Scotland related to the hoax?

A primary school in Scotland dedicated a day to honor Alan McMasters, the fake inventor of the toaster, and even created activities like painting toast slices and crafting mini-toasters in his memory.

What happened in 2018 regarding Alan McMasters and the Bank of England?

In 2018, the Bank of England considered Alan McMasters for inclusion on the £50 note, as his fabricated status as the inventor of the toaster gained widespread recognition.

How did the creators of the hoax feel about the spread of misinformation?

Despite the prank’s success, Alex and Adam felt a bit guilty about the spread of misinformation and later became part-time Wikipedia editors, helping correct errors and support the platform's mission.