What a Star on a House Really Means (And Why the Viral Rumor Was Wrong)

In late 2020, a bizarre piece of online gossip spread quickly: if you saw a five-pointed star on someone’s house, it supposedly meant the homeowners were “swingers.” The posts sounded confident, came with screenshots and “friend-of-a-friend” stories, and traveled fast across social media.

But there was one problem—there was no credible evidence behind it.

When people looked into the claim, it didn’t trace back to a reputable source, a cultural tradition, or any documented practice. Instead, it appeared to originate from old internet chatter—rumors repeated so many times that they started to sound like facts. By the time it went viral again, the context was gone and the confusion was widespread.

The truth is much simpler, much more wholesome, and honestly far more interesting.