Learn how to identify fake news on WhatsApp with these tips and tricks. Stay informed and protect yourself from misinformation.
Surely you have received that message on WhatsApp that, as soon as you read it, makes your hair stand on end : “Run, there is an epidemic in the neighborhood!”, “Careful, they are hacking WhatsApp accounts!” or something equally shocking.And of course, at that moment fear makes you think: is it true or are they playing a joke on me? That’s when the importance of searching the web comes to mind : how to know if a forwarded WhatsApp message is a hoax .
How to Know if a Forwarded WhatsApp Message is Fake News.
We live in a time where misinformation travels faster than a voice message, and hoaxes spread like wildfire. But if you want to avoid these messages, learn to search the web: how to tell if a forwarded WhatsApp message is a hoax . To do this, follow these tips:
Check the “Forwarded” label
One of the first warning signs when a message arrives on your WhatsApp is if it has the label “Forwarded many times” . This WhatsApp feature was implemented by the app to prevent the mass spread of rumors.
If you see that the message has this label at the top of the message, it is probably not an original news story, but something that has already been forwarded to many people. It is best to take a few minutes to check whether it is true or not , before spreading it.
Find the original source
When it comes to searching the web for how to tell if a WhatsApp forwarded message is a hoax , the first thing you should do is track down the original source of the information. This means that if the message is talking about a news story, an important announcement, or an official alert, you need to check if that information is backed up by a reliable source.
And how do you do it? Well, it’s very easy: go to the Google search engine and type in the keywords of the message you received. For example, if the message says there is a new law or a change in some regulation, search on media websites or official sources. Another option is to copy the entire message and paste it into the search engine ; often, if it is a known hoax, you will get results that refute the information.
Check the date of the news
When searching, pay close attention to the date, because it is one of the most important things to detect if a message is a hoax . Many times, these forwarded messages contain somewhat old information that they try to pass off as if it were current.
If you receive information about an event, alert or crisis , and you cannot find any recent mention or link to that information, be suspicious. Ideally, you should look for the news on different portals to see if it is still relevant or if it is already a thing of the past.
Analyze the writing and format
It sounds silly, but the way the message is written says a lot about its veracity. If the text has spelling mistakes , an alarmist tone, or uses overly exaggerated language, such as “This is urgent!” or “Share before it gets deleted!”, it’s a clear indication that something isn’t right.
Use fact checking pages
Another sure way to search the web: how to tell if a forwarded WhatsApp message is a hoax is to check fake news verification sites. Yes, just as you read. Many of these sites are dedicated to debunking rumors and hoaxes. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Damn hoax
- AFP Factual
- Newtral
- Checked
- Healthsymbulos
- Polygraph
- Fact Check Explorer
All of these portals are a pain when you receive a strange message and you don’t know whether to believe it. They are dedicated to verifying all kinds of rumors and debunking all kinds of news.
Don’t trust WhatsApp chains
Look, we know this may sound like something very old-fashioned, but don’t get carried away, it still happens. The important thing here is to be well informed, because you may not fall so easily into these chains anymore, but older adults are more susceptible to spreading information without thinking about it .
In these cases, the most important thing is to talk to your contacts and explain to them the importance of verifying information before sharing it . You can send them this same article or share with them one of the news verification tools we mentioned earlier.
Search the image on Google
If the news is accompanied by a suspicious image, don’t believe it so easily! You can use Google’s image search tools to check if that image is really related to the information you are being sent or if it has been taken out of another context.
To do this, save the image to your gallery and open Google Lens from your mobile. If you don’t have the app, you can also use it directly from Google Photos or the Google app. Once inside Google Lens, select the image you saved and let the tool analyze it.
Compare with other sources
Last but not least, when you receive a suspicious message, it is best to compare what has been forwarded to you with the information you find on other news portals or social networks.
If the news is fake, you probably won’t find it in official media or in reliable sources. You can also ask the person who forwarded the message, to make sure before sharing something you don’t know if it’s real.
Now you know, before you rush off to search the web to find out if a forwarded WhatsApp message is a hoax , stay calm and don’t panic. Sometimes, fear or the urgency of a message can make us take a wrong step, but with a little common sense and the tricks we’ve given you, you can avoid being part of that chain of misinformation.