Websites to check if a social media forward is a hoax

Fake forwards have been with us since the inception of the internet. It used to be email forwards about miracles, science or political conspiracies. I used to fact check them using websites like Snopes and The Straight Dope.

The fake forward virus has now undergone a fearsome mutation with the advent of social media. They now stoke fear and hatred of other people by using race, religion, political affiliation or culture. With everyone having a smartphone and an internet connection, the fake Whatsapp/Facebook forward poses a real danger.

Almost any such forward should raise suspicions in a rational person. But, common sense is in short supply these days. So, I looked around for websites to fact check such Indian language forwards, so that I could point family or friends to that.

Here are a list of websites that I found to be useful:

• Social media hoax slayer

• Hoax slayer

• Hoax or fact

• Boom

• Check4Spam

Let me know if you find other such fact checking websites.