What's this 'broom challenge,' and why are people believing it?

Can a broom stand on its own?

Yes.

Still, videos of people standing up brooms and walking away, leaving them upright, has captivated social media enough to spur a viral trend: the broom challenge.

So the challenge didn’t work with me but it worked with my dad?‍♀️? #broomchallenge pic.twitter.com/PfGV1yt1qQ

— Nallely (@nainaib_) February 11, 2020

OH MY GOD?!?! I REBUKE THIS #BroomChallenge #Gravity pic.twitter.com/DtdlLHnWrq

— Ally Brooke (@AllyBrooke) February 11, 2020

A bogus claim accompanies this challenge. The source of this claim, according to the broom-challenge faithful: NASA.

Yes, NASA.

People are saying that NASA announced that on Feb. 10 — and only Feb. 10 — can people stand up a broom because of the Earth’s gravitational pull … or some planetary alignment, depending on whom you asked.

First of all, you can stand up a broom on its own (depending on the broom) any time of year.

Second of all (in case you actually needed one), NASA made no such claim.

Thankfully, we have people like Al Roker to help keep us sane.

.@alroker is here to debunk the #broomchallenge. pic.twitter.com/fRKssl7w9y

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 11, 2020

That, of course, did not stop people from attempting the challenge, then posting video and photo evidence.

Can’t decide which one to take ?#broomchallenge pic.twitter.com/g1LLpwioWR

— Jay Tea (@Josh_TheBoss2) February 11, 2020

we had to go test it... pic.twitter.com/DNtkOlLRGd

— Dyantá D. Harris (@dyantaatnaydh) February 10, 2020

I don’t have a broom... does this count? #broomchallenge pic.twitter.com/gL7GCZwg4x

— Lindsay Brightman (@Dame_Champagne) February 11, 2020

Balance brooms they did, which seemed to confirm the veracity of the false claim, but actually just meant brooms could always do this.