WhatsApp getting in-built ‘search on web’ feature for images sent on the app, spotted in beta | Tech Tips

There are plenty of ways to do a reverse image search on the web. However, the function doesn’t come baked in in apps like instant messengers where images are shared regularly. Now, Meta-owned WhatsApp is working on incorporating a feature that will let you verify the authenticity of images without leaving the messenger. This will help battle the proliferation of misinformation and misleading content. WABetainfo, who is known for accurately tracking upcoming features, spotted the reverse search image function on WhatsApp. 

WhatsApp to get reverse search image feature

As the name suggests, users can quickly search online for the image that they have received. Once you tap the image and it opens in full screen, there is a three-dot menu at the top right corner that has a new option called ‘search on web’. Choosing the feature will upload the image to Google. The search engine will then look for any identical or similar images that have been uploaded elsewhere like other websites or social media networks. All this happens without leaving WhatsApp. 

The standard way to perform a reverse image search to verify the authenticity has been through Google Search. This involved a manual method of downloading the image and uploading it to conduct a search. The integrated feature in WhatsApp is more convenient and offers an enhanced experience for those who want a straightforward method to check the received image’s validity. The instant messaging platform says that the function is optional and the uploaded image is not shared or processed by WhatsApp itself. 

As per WABetainfo, the search on the web feature is currently available for beta testers and found in the build number 2.24.2313. It is expected to arrive on a stable version in the coming weeks. However, it remains to be seen if the functionality will also be available for iOS users. 

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