Let’s explore a few playful myths from digital life. Many of these stories float around social media or get shared during office chats. Some are surprisingly persistent. Others are simply funny. Here are ten popular digital tales and where they actually come from.
Emojis were invented by a teenager
A common story says a high school student created the first emojis on a home computer. The truth is simpler. Shigetaka Kurita designed the first full emoji set in Japan in 1999 as part of a mobile communication project. Kurita wanted small icons that helped users express tone when typing short messages. The teenage inventor story probably became popular because it sounds charming.
The loading spinner shows real progress
Many people assume the spinning circle reflects actual progress in the process you are running. It often does not. On several platforms it is simply an animation that plays while the system waits for a response. This created the myth that the spinner tells you how close you are to being done. In reality it is mostly a visual cue to reassure users that something is happening behind the scenes.
Typing ":)" automatically creates an emoji because the software reads your mind
Many messaging apps replace common text symbols with graphics. This led to the belief that software recognizes the emotion on its own. The real reason is that developers added simple replacement rules that turn characters into images. It looks like a bit of magic, which is why the myth stuck.
Emojis have universal meaning
Another popular legend is that an emoji carries the same meaning everywhere. Anyone who has used the “folded hands” emoji knows this is not true. It is interpreted as a prayer gesture, a thank you gesture, or a high-five depending on the community. This makes digital communication colourful but sometimes confusing.
Wi-Fi stands for "Wireless Fidelity"
This myth has circulated for years. Many people treat it like an official technical term. The name Wi-Fi was actually created by a branding agency that wanted something short and memorable. It was not meant to stand for anything. The myth spread because the name sounds similar to Hi-Fi and people assumed it followed the same pattern.
Autocorrect learns your thoughts
Autocorrect does learn from repeated patterns, which led to playful rumours that it captures hidden thoughts. It does not. It stores common typing habits and frequently used words. Your phone is not trying to read between the lines.
Deleting a message from your chat app erases it from all servers forever
Turning on airplane mode blocks all tracking
Airplane mode cuts wireless signals but does not turn a device into a ghost. Some system processes still function locally. While your cellular Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections are disabled, for example, it does not turn off GPS, which continues to receive satellite signals and can determine your location.
Charging your phone overnight harms the battery
This belief has been shared for years. Modern lithium-ion batteries and charging circuits are more advanced. They regulate current, which reduces long-term strain. Convenience usually outweighs the small long-term effects.
The Internet weighs as much as a strawberry
This comes from a playful estimate comparing electrons used in data storage with the mass of fruit. It has no practical scientific meaning but remains one of the most cheeky digital myths.
Had you heard (or believed) any of these before? For sure, they make a good ice breaker in any light conversation.