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| WhatsApp added a feature to check if the message is fake |
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows users to quickly search the content of frequently forwarded messages. The company said to verify misinformation.
Starting today, the magnifying glass icon will appear next to messages that have been repeatedly forwarded by five or more people.
Click the magnifying glass icon to search the message’s content online so that the letter contains general conspiracy theories or misinformation.
In a screenshot of the feature published by WhatsApp, use an example of a fast-spreading message claiming to drink fresh cooked garlic water (COVID-19).
Internet searches revealed three investigative pages that mislead this statement.
CNN reported in March last year that incorrect medical information had become a problem with Facebook's messaging service.
Due to the full encryption of the service, Facebook's attempt to control the misinformation in WhatsApp is very complex and prevents the display of the content of all messages sent through the service.
With WhatsApp, users can use the new search feature to check information on their own, instead of companies pre-scanning messages to find common conspiracy theories.
WhatsApp said: Every message the user chooses to search is sent directly to his browser and the platform does not see the message itself.
This feature is the latest WhatsApp initiative to prevent spreading misinformation on its platform.
In April, the platform placed new restrictions on forwarding frequently-forwarded emails.
After processing, the forwarded message can only be sent back to another person multiple times. The message was reduced compared to the previous five restrictions.
WhatsApp later said: This action cut the distribution of forwarded messages by 70%, although it is impossible to know how many messages contain incorrect information.
Now the new search functionality has started in Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, Great Britain and USA via iOS, Android and across the web version.