Fact Check: Are Minikins real? Viral TikTok animal craze debunked 

Various social media users have taken to multiple platforms recently to claim that creatures called Minikins have been found in Georgia swamps. The Internet users are going viral by claiming that the alien-looking creatures are real and have been abandoned.

However, it is worth noting that such animals do not exist in reality. Minikins are not real animals. The content that has made its way online appears to be made using artificial intelligence.

YouTube channel Headtap Videos was the first to take to the social networking site to claim that the Minikins were left “orphaned." In a video uploaded on June 9, one could see the fish-like creatures appear with large, dilated eyes. They appeared to have a slim build with four limbs and a nose, mouth, and ears similar to those of humans.

The YouTuber claimed that the species were found in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp. He went on to add that they were brought to safety by the Minikins Rescue and Conservation Center. The netizen then stated that the creatures were receiving proper care and nutrition to eventually introduce them back to their original home.

In a video the YouTuber uploaded on June 24, the channel claimed that the Minikins were receiving round-the-clock treatment and nurturing. The video’s caption also read that the Minikin Rescue Center was taking the help of field agents who used special equipment. They said:

“specially designed micro-cameras and sound equipment to gather crucial data on Minikin life cycles, social structures, and their unique symbiosis with the marsh environment.”

Although the creatures are not real, videos about them have amassed thousands of views across social media platforms.

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Minikins do not exist in reality

Claims of the existence of Minikins originated from the Headtap Videos social media page. If one reads the bio of their channel, they will notice that the channel claims to “experiment in videos and Graphics.”

The YouTube page has also provided a link to their official website, titled ‘headtap.net.’ When netizens read the Home page of the website, they will be notified that their content is purely fictional. They have written:

“Here, the boundaries of reality blur and blend with the tapestry of the unknown, creating a setting that is as captivating as is serene.”

Furthermore, if one looks at the other content uploaded on the YouTube page, they have shared artificially generated/doctored content, including the existence of a fish with a human face and plants with eyes.

No other news outlet has also reported on the existence of the animal. Hence, it is safe to say that the creatures do not exist in reality.

Meanwhile, the claims that the species is endangered have spread like wildfire. One TikTok user Bobby Boom claimed that “they are highly intelligent creatures with delicate, slender limbs and large, soulful eyes. They thrive in tightly knit family groups, with the young ones nurtured and guided by their mothers.”

Facebook user Bobby Brill also went viral for uploading content about the species. It is important to verify such information from reliable news outlets as misinformation is quite rampant online.