You Can Now Fact-Check Forwarded Messages On WhatsApp

  • AUTHOR: dua
  • POSTED ON: August 5, 2020

Since the beginning of this pandemic, there’s been an awful level of uncertainty around us which has given birth to anxiety and vulnerability. Due to this reason, many people started spreading hoax and inaccurate cures through WhatsApp messaging – knowing that most people believe in anything and everything without fact-checking and don’t even think twice before forwarding those messages.


Despite having good intentions, it’s important to forward only the messages that are accurate and verified. Because of this reason, WhatsApp was under fire as there was no way for users to find out whether or not the forwarded messages had any truth to them or not.


Source: The Verge 


After months of criticism and dealing with Covid-19, WhatsApp has finally added the feature which allows its users to check whether or not the piece of information is accurate. There will be a small magnifying glass present on all forwarded messages that will help you identify the truth. By clicking this button, a Google search will open on the respective query enabling you a clear direction to solve the mystery and clarify the confusion.


So far, the option is available for users in Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, UK, and the US on both iOS and Android.


In the past, WhatsApp has tried to stop the spreading of false information a number of times. Last Year in January, WhatsApp put a number limit on the number of chats a message could be forwarded to. Previously, the number was 256 and it was drastically reduced to 5.

 

Updated August 5, 2020
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