Search engine giant Google is taking steps to further safeguard the search engine users from utilizing search results that may be unreliable or inherently false. In the age of fake news, the company recently began a fact-checking mechanism for ascertaining the authenticity of search results. Fact-checking will further enhance the quality of information accessed via the search engine.
However, the fact-checking mechanism is not effective when swamped with breaking news, making it difficult to fact-check content and establish which is authentic. Under such a scenario when Google cannot guarantee the authenticity of a search item, it has been reported that Google will subsequently warn the user. An explanation will then follow the warning, stating that the topic you are searching for is new. An indication is provided that the fact-checking algorithm takes time to establish the reliability of sources.
Like social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, Google is putting mechanisms in the form of deep learning algorithms to curb the spread of fake news under its platform. In addition, many social media platforms are increasingly trying to prevent their platform from being used as an avenue for propagating fake and sometimes incendiary news.
For the instances where it cannot quickly fact-check the search result, users are prompted that the search results they are seeing are fast evolving. Google has already confirmed it started the testing just a week ago. The message is currently popping up in very few searches, mainly about developing stories and trending topics.
Google is the largest search engine company in the world and hopes the unveiling of this new feature will further firm up the company’s prospects. The company has continued to enhance the quality of its search with its search literacy advocacy. It also recently added the About button aimed at improving the quality of the search.
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