7 Commonly Believed Internet Facts That Aren't Actually True

The internet is full of information. Whether it's learning how to make a repair on your house, reading up on local events in your area, or skimming over social media profiles to creep on fellow humans, we all have access to an infinite amount of potential knowledge. 

With that said, internet users are also prone to coming across information that may not be accurate. While some gullible souls may believe anything they read, others choose to refute facts until their faces turn blue. For the latter crowd, looking a bit further into the following facts may have proved why they were skeptical to begin with. 

Without further delay, here are seven commonly believed internet facts that, after further review, don't necessarily pass as truth.

1) "Falling coconuts kill over 150 people worldwide per year." 

This factoid is believed to have gained traction to convince people that coconuts pose an equal or even greater risk to humans than sharks.

2) "The average person consumes eight spiders per year while sleeping." 

Ironically, this statistic was fabricated to serve as an example of how gullible people can be about content they read on the internet.

3) "Hostess Twinkies stay fresh forever." 

Despite the claim, the creme-filled sponge treat does expire like any other edible food, although the company did nearly double its shelf life in the summer of 2013 from 26 days to 45 days.

4) "Most of your body heat is lost through your head." 

If you believe this statement, you may think wearing a cap offers the ultimate protection from the cold. Unfortunately, science proves that body heat is lost equally through any other part of the body exposed to the cold.

5) "You shouldn't swim right after eating." 

We've all heard this one at some point in our lives. But the reality is that it's more likely used as a parenting tool rather than an actual safety tip. So, don't worry about hopping back in the pool after a nice meal. You won't cramp up and drown.

6) "Going outside in the cold or going to bed with wet hair will cause a cold." 

It's believed that sporting a head full of wet hair makes you more susceptible to illness. But unless you're going around picking up a virus, you shouldn't fret too much. Wet hair don't care.

7) "It takes years to digest a piece of swallowed gum." 

I don't know about you, but one of my worst fears as a child was accidentally swallowing my gum. But it turns out those pieces of gum move through the gastrointestinal tract at almost the same speed as any other waste. With that said, making a habit of sucking down gum probably isn't the wisest thing to do.