UPDATED 2/01/2017 7:00 p.m. ET: After we foolishly suggested that @beyoncefan666 had somehow found a way to backdate tweeted predictions, Andy Baio contacted us and shared a piece he wrote about this type of hoax account, and damned if it isn't the simplest way to look like a modern Nostradamus.
His piece, "How to Flawlessly Predict Anything on the Internet," is from July of 2014, and breaks down how these kinds of accounts can look like prophets. The gist is that you set up a private account—on Twitter, for instance. Then you just start filling this account with numerous scenarios; if you wanted to predict the 2016 presidential election, for instance, you'd have separate tweets (Clinton winning, Trump winning, and Sanders winning), all written ahead of the actual outcome. Then when the actual outcome happens, you just delete the tweets with the incorrect outcome, make the account public, and voila. You look like you see the future.
It's a genius trick, and one that's apparently been around for years. Being a natural skeptic, I appreciate Baio sending this over. Stay woke, fam.
Original story is below.
Earlier today, Beyoncé took it to Instagram to announce that she and Jay Z are having twins. These days, with so much #fakenews and gossip rags running around, the best way for those in the public eye to get the word out is by announcing it yourself. But if you had been following the Twitter account @beyoncefan666, you would've known this... back in July of 2016.
Okay so Beyoncé is gonna announce a pregnancy in February(2017)
For those who hadn't heard, the account repeated that statement again on Jan. 28.
Beyoncé is pregnant. She told me.
No, we're not sure HOW this is even possible. I'm at a loss, and so is Twitter, who isn't here for the (seemingly on-point) sorcery.
@beyoncefan666 What the actual pic.twitter.com/VQ1sViVtK8
@LittleMarsbar @beyoncefan666 sorcery is the only explanation
Some wise individuals are trying to use this demonic magic for their own good.
@beyoncefan666 @fromoldharlem that's crazy. Ask her about the the knicks please.
@beyoncefan666 OK, I need the numbers for the Mega Millions.
But forreal, how the hell does something like this happen? They seemingly predicted that Trump would win the presidency with their first tweet.
Unfortunately Donald Trump will be elected president :(
Now this account doesn't seem to always be right, though; it was surprisingly a week late on "predicting" that Lady Gaga would be playing this weekend's Super Bowl.
Not long until NFL announce that Lady Gaga will be performing at the Super Bowl
The account does seem to have gotten Brexit right, though. Tweeted out information on the impending vote on June 14 then again on June 22, including the correct percentage of votes being cast to leave the European Union.
U.K. Voted to leave the Eu
Haha referendum coming up. Just a heads up: we leave the EU lol
In the referendum 52% vote leave
How the F*CK does someone even do this? It's one of those situations that feels like an extremely clever hoax, but if so, how does one do that? They hacking Twitter databases to backdate tweets? Or is some tried-and-true sorcery going on? It is 2017, and seemingly anything can and indeed will happen, but fam, this is some next level f*ckery. Stay woke.
