The Urban Legend of the Bodies in the Water:
If you don't recognize this urban legend, that's ok! It's new! This urban legend began back in August via TikTok, when an account SCP-2316, put out a fake, but super realistic looking public safety announcement out. In the announcement an automated voice talks to you stating (Inserting transcript below):
SCP-2316 is the designation for an anomalous phenomenon existing within Lake ___ within ____ County. SCP-2316 manifests as a group of human corpses1 floating in a small group at the surface of the water. The identities of these corpses are [COGNITOHAZARD REMOVED] [Automated Change: UNKNOWN], though DNA testing has been inconclusive.
While SCP-2316 appears to be individual instances, it is theorized that SCP-2316 may instead be an entity composed of a collective consciousness. Individual instances of SCP-2316 do not act on their own, but do seem to be able to act collectively as a2 single unit. The individual instances of SCP-2316 are3 unrecognizable, and you do not recognize the bodies in the water.
SCP-2316 hosts a powerful cognitohazardous effect, causing those who have viewed SCP-2316, are aware of certain parts of its nature, or who were enrolled in the [COGNITOHAZARD REMOVED] [Automated Message: INVALID] to believe that the individual instances of SCP-2316 are human beings they recognize, typically from their childhood4.
Attempting to come into contact with SCP-2316 instances, by way of entering the Lake or touching an instance of SCP-2316, will cause other instances of SCP-2316 to appear. You do not recognize the bodies in the water. The additional instances only serve to reinforce and add to the strength of the cognitohazard5, compelling affected individuals into the lake. Individuals who enter the lake in this way are lost, and to date none have been recovered.
This video spooked tons of people on the internet, because the video appeared and sounded so authentic, reaching thousands of people including me, it even gained media attention. For a few weeks afterwards there were memes about the bodies in the water, and plenty of refences to the phenomenon all over TikTok.
But with all Urban Legends, the cautionary tale is this, if you see someone you know in the water, don't jump in to save them for risk of endangering yourself. youre much better off throwing a rope, or a floaty out into the water. Also, you can always turn your own pants into a flotation device if needed!
