Social media spreads Boston Marathon rumors

Several rumors regarding Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings went viral even though they were eventually proven to be erroneous reports.

According to CNN, social media platforms carry their victories and vices in the news-gathering industry, making it all the more difficult to confirm or deny new information as it unfolds.

“On days like this, Twitter shows its best & worst: loads of info at huge speed, but often false & sometimes deliberately so,” said Mark Blank-Settle, of the BBC College of Journalism, in a post on the site.

Here are five social media rumors that have spread since the Boston Marathon bombings occurred.