Let’s rewind to 2011. A fake news report claimed Dylan died in a car crash in Argentina. It spread faster than a bad harmonica solo. Twitter went into cardiac arrest. “Bob Dylan dead at 70,” the headlines screamed—until everyone realized it was a hoax cooked up by a satirical site. I remember checking my phone and thinking, “Wait, did I just lose a legend to a taxi cab?”
But here’s the twist: the prank stuck. Even now, people Google “Bob Dylan death” and find that old story. The algorithm doesn’t care about truth; it cares about clicks. So every few months, a new generation of fans panics because they land on a 2011 article that looks terrifyingly real. (Pro tip: if the source is “Global Associated News,” run the other way.)