Skip to main content

What is the Mandela Effect? We explain the causes of false memories

You remember that movie with Sinbad? You know, Shazaam?

Actually you don’t — because it isn’t real. But somehow, in some weird way, large swaths of internet users seem to believe the popular 1990’s comedian actually played a genie and swear they saw it. Think of it as a “collective misremembering,” where large groups of people all believe in an alternative reality of sorts.

Recommended Videos

There was a movie about a genie in 1996 called Kazaam, but that starred Shaquille O’Neal, not Sinbad. They don’t even look alike. And only one sells doorbells today.

Don’t get this confused with the Trump-era “alternative facts,” where someone stands by a claim they know is false. These are people who honestly believe in the fallacy, and large numbers of them.

Shazaam is not the only one. Another example is a clock in a train station in Bologna, Italy. The clock actually stopped working in 1996, some 16 years after a deadly attack. The station’s management at that time decided to keep the clock and set it permanently at the time of the attack, 10:25. A study later found that 92 percent of those familiar with the station swore that the clock was always broken.

Or how about the Berenstain Bears? A common false memory is that it was once the Berenstein Bears. Nope, not true. This collective misremembering has taken on a new name as of late: the “Mandela Effect.”

Why the weird name?

The Mandela effect is the brainchild of paranormal consultant and blogger Fiona Broome. Broome coined the term after a 2010 Dragon Con convention where she found many convention goers believed that South African President Nelson Mandela had died while in imprisonment during the 1980s. Mandela actually died in 2013, and was president of the country from 1994 to 1999.

Even so, she and others swore he was dead. That led to a website of the same name, which now acts as a repository of information on not only the false memories surrounding Mandela’s death but others, such as Reverend Billy Graham’s televised funeral (he’s still alive as of this writing, and 98!), and misspellings of things like Jif Peanut Butter and Looney Toons.

Why does this occur?

It’s not exactly clear how these mass misconceptions begin, but there are a few theories. Some argue that it is an issue of societal reinforcement of a false memory, a kind of ‘Whisper down the lane’ effect. If you’ve ever played the telephone game as a child, you know how quickly whatever you’re whispering can get mangled into something completely different.

Others blame the rise of so-called “fake news.” As misleading stories make their way through social media and other channels, and then are shared far and wide, intentional misrepresentations of fact alter our collective memory. The recent “Pizzagate” storyline was only one of many in just the last year alone.

Memories are then built upon these false narratives, and the Mandela Effect takes hold. Finding others that might share in the delusion only makes it worse.

Could it be an alternate reality?

The recent discussion in the scientific community surrounding the concept of a “multiverse,” and the possibilities there might be ‘mirror’ universes to our own leads to the crazier side of the Mandela Effect. Broome and others claim that these memories are more than just “collective misrememberings.”

They suggest they are intrusions into our own reality by events that actually happened in alternate realities. It sounds crazy, but there’s a whole subreddit devoted to the subject. There, redditors are actively discussing such possibilities. (Reddit is full of awesome stuff like that.)

Whether you should believe this or not no doubt depends on how much faith you place in the validity of some cutting-edge scientific theories. If you do, apparently you’re part of a growing number of individuals who don’t think these incidents are mere chance. If not … well, the universe is still beautiful, right?

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more