The Internet has given us access to a vast amount of information. But it is not always easy to know which of the news we have read on the net is true or false. The fake news have become in recent years is a real problem for those who want to be informed. But Google has decided to take action on the matter so that we are well informed.
Google enters the fight against fake news
"About this result"
At Google I/O last week, Google announced its intentions to launch a new feature in its service Google News. Thus, from now on, next to each of the search results we will be able to find a button called “About this result”, which will give us information about the source from which the news comes.
In this way, it will be much easier to differentiate whether information comes from a reliable media or, on the contrary, comes from one of the websites that proliferate on the Internet and that are mainly dedicated to the spread of fake news.
By pressing this button, we can find a definition about how the media in question defines itself. We will also be able to see what other people think of that medium, as well as a link to its Wikipedia page. Thus, by having more references about the source of the news, we will be able to have more data about whether or not it is reliable.
Of course, the fact that a medium is well known does not prevent it from trying to sneak in some fake news from time to time. And there are media that are not too mainstream but that offer totally valid and truthful information. but have some more information and context can always be of great help.
When will the tool against fake news be available?
Google first mentioned this tool in an entry on your blog published last February, but its arrival is being delayed a bit.
Now we know that at the end of this month, Google's tool to fight fake news will be available for english results. For the rest of the languages it will still take a little longer. But given that Spanish is one of the most widespread languages on the Internet, it is possible that it will be one of the first to receive this tool throughout the summer.
The crisis of covid 19th and the many political changes that have taken place in the last year have made misinformation a real problem. Therefore, any tool that can help eradicate it will always be well appreciated by those who want to be well informed.
Do you think this tool that Google has launched will be useful to fight against fake news? What other actions do you think we should take to be well informed? We invite you to tell us about it in our comments section.