Doha: WhatsApp took out full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers offering "easy tips" to identify fact from fiction after a slew of violent events spurred by hoaxes shared on its platform.
The messaging service has been under immense pressure to curb the spread of misinformation in India.
This holds true for other countries also as spreading fake information through various social media platforms has become a headache for authorities everywhere.
Even in Qatar, officials had to issue statements clarifying many such fake forwards.
Here are the 10 tips issued by WhatsApp in India. This is useful for people in Qatar and elsewhere also:
1. Understand when a message is forwarded
Starting this week, WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that lets you see which message has been forwarded. Double check the facts when you’re not sure who wrote the original message.
2. Question information that upsets you
If you read something that makes you angry or afraid, ask whether it was shared to make you feel that way. And if the answer is yes, think twice before sharing it again.
3. Check information that seems unbelievable
Stories that seem hard to believe are often untrue - check elsewhere to see if they are really true.
4. Look out for messages that look different
Many messages containing hoaxes or fake news have spelling mistakes. Look for these signs so you can check if the information is accurate.
5. Check photos in messages carefully
It is easier to believe photos and videos, but even these can be edited to mislead you. Sometimes the photo is real, but the story around it is not. So look online where the photo came from.
6. And check links too
It may look like the link to a well-known website but if there are spelling mistakes or unusual characters; it is usually a sign that something is wrong.
7. Use other sources
Look at other news websites or apps to see if the story is being reported elsewhere. When a story is reported at multiple places it is more likely to be true.
8. Be thoughtful about what you share
If you are not sure of the source or concerned that the information may be untrue, think twice before sharing.
9. You can control what you see
On WhatsApp, you can block any number or leave any group you want. Use these features to keep control of your experiences
10. Fake news often goes viral
Do not pay attention to the number of times you receive a message. Just because a message is shared many times, does not make it true.
