The Meta-owned instant messaging app WhatsApp is launching a safety campaign named ‘Check the Facts’ to combat misinformation on its platform. The campaign will raise user awareness about WhatsApp’s safety features and encourage digital best practices to prevent the spread of misinformation.
The month-long campaign highlights WhatsApp’s in-built product features and safety tools like block and report, forward labels that equip users to spot misinformation and prevent its spread further, and encourages people to verify information that sounds suspicious or inaccurate via fact-checking organisations on WhatsApp Channels.
Here’s How To Counter Fake News On WhatsApp
– Understand when a message is forwarded: The Meta-owned app has developed a label for all forwarded messages and limits the number of times you can forward messages as a way to encourage users to reconsider before sharing. Paying careful attention to messages with “forward labels” also helps slow down the spread of rumours, viral messages, and fake news.
For example, if a message has a double arrow icon and is labeled “forwarded many times,” it can only be forwarded to one chat at a time. If a message has a “forwarded label” you can forward it to up to five chats and only one group at a time.
– Block and report suspicious accounts: The instant messaging app makes it easy for users to block accounts and report problematic messages, such as those spreading misinformation.
If you get a message from an unknown sender, you can block them, and WhatsApp provides additional details like common groups. Safety tools are also available if further action is needed.
– Follow fact-checking organisations on WhatsApp Channels to receive accurate information: WhatsApp encourages users to verify information that seems suspicious or inaccurate to prevent the spread of misinformation.
In India, WhatsApp collaborates with 10 independent fact-checking organizations across 13 languages to help users verify information. Users can follow these fact-checking organisations on WhatsApp Channels to receive accurate and verified updates.
1. Boom Fact-Check
2. Fact Crescendo
3. Factly
4. India Today Fact Check
5. Newschecker
6. NewsMobile
7. Webqoof
8. The Healthy Indian Project
9. Vishvas News
10.NewsMeter FactCheck
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