A fake (faux) phenomenon, usually picked up on by the news-media, using bogus or highly unusual anecdotes to construct a false 'trend'.
Media outlets from the New York Times to Fox News absolutely
love these, because they fill column space and news time, anyone can comment on them / write them and appear informed without actual research or investigative
work, and they make for 'sexy' stories.
Common features of fauxnomenon stories include: Teens, sex,
drugs, teens and sex, teens and
drugs, teens and sex and drugs.
These types of fauxnomenon stories are often called 'moral panic' stories.
Mom: "Hey there honey, you haven't been going to Rainbow Parties, have you? It'
s where girls all get different colors of lipstick, and then they blow every boy at the
party until their penises look
like rainbows! I know kids are doing it these days because I saw it on Fox and CNN and Oprah, and I'm worried. They wouldn't put it on
TV if it weren't true."
Daughter: "Mom, that's just a fauxnomenon! It's designed to play on your fear of teen sex and drum up ratings."
Mom: "Really?"
Daughter: "Yeah. That jenkem thing is totally
legit, though."