Transforming the forward icon into a search icon to stop the spread of misinformation by empowering the WhatsApp community from within our UX.

Problem/Background:

Misinformation is a huge problem around the world. But during the COVID 19 pandemic, this problem becomes even more serious and detrimental. And with over 2 billion users on our platform, WhatsApp was responsible for keeping them safe from the spread of misinformation and while keeping them updated about the credibility of news, articles, links, frequently forwarded messages etc. shared on WhatsApp. While WhatsApp is encrypted and no one, including WhatsApp can see what our users message inside the app, we can gather the data when a message is forwarded too many times to contribute to spread of misinformation—another pandemic within the COVID 19 pandemic.

Idea/How it worked:

That’s why to improve people’s lives we took the feature in our UI that was being used to spread misinformation and turned it into a feature that prevented it. And created a new functionality, Check it before you share it— a way to double check facts before forwarding messages further using and transforming our UI.

If a message was forwarded more than 5 times, the forward icon in our UI changed into a search icon, which let our users search and verify misinformation directly from within the app, integrated with Google’s search engine. We launched this feature globally to help the community to curb the spread of misinformation by turning the problem into the solution. While we launched this feature during the pandemic, this will contribute to curb misinformation for all our users in perpetuity.

Results:

• 3 millions pieces of misinformation debunked per month

• 20% retention rate.

• 315 MM impressions from the media in the first week alone.

Role: Creator

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/07/whatsapp-to-impose-new-limit-on-forwarding-to-fight-fake-news

https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/04/whatsapp-pilot-search-the-web-fight-spread-of-misinformation/

https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/4/21353807/whatsapp-magnifying-glass-search-coronavirus-misinformation-fact-check

Awards

Clio

1 Gold

Cannes

1 Shortlist - Sustainable Development Goals category

The One Show

2 Bronzes

The Creative Floor Awards

Grand Prix

LIA

2 Silvers

2 Bronzes

2 Finalists

ADC

1 Bronze

PHNX Tribute Awards

1 Silver

Webby Awards

1 Honoree

2 Nominations

Anthem Awards

4 Golds

New York Festivals

3 Finalists

AdStars

4 Finalists