WhatsApp Trial Image Search Feature to Prevent Hoaks

WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature that can be used to fight hoax news. This feature called "reverse image search" aka reverse search allows users to search images, to detect whether or not the original image sent via chat. Reverse image search actually uploads images to Google Search services to trace their origins.

Has a simple mechanism. This feature allows users to upload images sent via chat through the Google Search service.

Later, Google will show results whether the image was previously uploaded or not. The reverse image search feature on WhatsApp can be useful for countries where this platform is widely used to spread false information.

How to use it is quite easy, users simply touch and hold the image in the chat, then a pop-up menu will appear on the image.

From the menu that appears, users simply select the "search image" option and automatically the image will be searched through the Google Search page. Reverse image search is being tested on WhatApp Beta 2.19.73 for Android.

Users who want to try it can download related updates through the Google Play Beta Program. This is not the first time WhatsApp has released a feature that can minimize the spread of hoax news. Previously, WhatsApp began to limit the circulation of forward messages to users.

Each message, limited to only five contacts can be forwarded at one time. If the user selects more than five contacts, a notification will appear indicating that the user has reached the maximum limit. WhatsApp itself is now the most popular instant messaging platform in the world, with more than 1.5 billion active users.