WhatsApp, the biggest instant messaging platform in the world is about to get a vital feature. An in-built fake news verifier. Yeah, you heard it right! Bid adieu to false viral information, that conveniently distorts the line between facts and fiction. You’ll be able to straight-up fact-check the forwarded content on the internet.
The company is apparently testing this feature and credits to WABetaInfo, we know how it’s possibly going to look like and function. Although the work on this feature has been going on for about a year, the latest beta version 2.20.94 shows some progress.
Let’s cut to the chase.
WhatsApp Fact Check: How would it work?
WaBetaInfo has been kind enough to share some screenshots exhibiting this new feature.
Here’s how it works:
- From the images shared above, we could see a search icon right next to these messages.
- When you click on that icon, you’ll get a dialogue box asking whether you would like to search this on Google.
- So, if you tap “Search the Web,” the entire message will be pasted on the Google Search bar.
- All you gotta do is to hit the search icon and voila, it will populate search results with those key phrases (keywords)
- You can open up any credible website and verify the info.
As already mentioned, this is recessed to the beta version as of now. You may test it out by downloading the latest version from either Play Store or Apkmirror.
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This is a highly-required feature, especially considering how WhatsApp and its parent Facebook is chastised for being the channels of misinformation. And guess what it seems like we won’t have to wait long.
In a statement given to Techcrunch, WhatsApp correspondent said, “We are working on new features to help empower users to find out more information about the messages they receive that have been forwarded many times. This feature is currently in testing, and we look forward to rolling it out in the near future.”
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“All of us technology companies need to create some tools that help diminish the volume of fake news.” — Tim Cook. Well, they should. After all, tech products are all-pervasive and they happen to be our close source of news. Don’t you think?
