Those in the WhatsApp beta program can now download the latest beta of the platform, which lets them run reverse image searches on whatever image they receive on the app. This will give users a complete perspective on the media they receive, helping them determine whether it has been manipulated or taken out of context. With the fake news menace still pretty much active, this feature could make a big impact when it comes to countering misinformation.
As revealed by WABetaInfo, those who download WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.21.31 will now find a new “Search on web” option in the three-dot menu of any image they receive. Tapping on it will initiate a reverse image search. Doing this will bring up the same or similar images on the Internet, thus giving insights into their original source and form. Spotting any manipulations will hence be incredibly convenient.
This new feature will give users a lot more control and transparency over the content shared in their conversations. It will also save a lot of the time that would usually be spent by someone who wants to conduct a reverse image search. Normally, this process involves downloading the image, going into the browser, opening Google Reverse Search, and uploading the said image. And that’s all the more cumbersome when done on the phone.
It was only a few days ago that WhatsApp introduced one more interesting feature that could redefine how users connect. The beta versions of the app currently allow users to claim their own usernames. Like Instagram, this feature will allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, offering an added layer of privacy and security.
Recently, the stable versions of WhatsApp even received a big update that brought their Status feature closer to how Instagram Stories works. Just like Instagram, every Status message has a heart at the bottom-right corner that your contacts can tap to let you know that they like your Status. Then, there are private mentions that act as a tagging feature on Instagram.
Coming back to the “Search on web” feature, as I said, it can only be accessed by WhatsApp beta users on Android right now. All they need to do is download the latest version of the beta.
