Before a major film release, the internet floods with claiming to show the death of a superhero, a post-credits cameo, or a monster design. These are often created by fan forums or shady entertainment blogs to generate ad revenue. During the release of Avengers: Endgame , fake set photos depicting alternate endings generated millions of social media impressions, causing real confusion among casual fans.
The rapid spread of fake entertainment photos is driven by an intersection of technology, psychology, and economics: