"Social Media Fails". How so?

April 28, 2018 9:12 AM

Ok, this is driving me nuts. The theme of today's USAToday Crossword is "Social Media Fails". How do these answers fit? Spoilers below the fold.

The four related answers are:

ICEDSOMALIA
MOSAICIDEAL
ALICIADEMOS
ILIADCAMEOS

I'm stumped! If the answer is pretty obvious, maybe just answer with a hint?

posted by Pig Tail Orchestra to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (3 answers total)

Response by poster: Nevermind. I just figured it out!
posted by Pig Tail Orchestra at 9:14 AM on April 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

anagrams of SOCIAL MEDIA

and as such they fail to make those particular words.
posted by flabdablet at 10:42 AM on April 28, 2018

Fails is a pretty standard way to clue anagrams in cryptic crosswords. Of course this is not a cryptic crossword, and I'm sure USAToday does not expect that even 10% of their readers know crap about cryptics, but I would bet you a hundred donuts that their puzzle editor and/or whoever set this crossword is a fan of them.
posted by aubilenon at 11:28 AM on April 28, 2018 [1 favorite]