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A fake (faux) phenomenon, usually picked up on by the news-media, using bogus or highly unusual anecdotes to construct a false 'trend'. Media outlets from the New York Times to Fox News absolutely love these, because they fill column space and news time, anyone can comment on them / write them and appear informed without actual research or investigative work, and they make for 'sexy' stories. Common features of fauxnomenon stories include: Teens, sex, drugs, teens and sex, teens and drugs, teens and sex and drugs. These types of fauxnomenon stories are often called 'moral panic' stories.
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