Fake news is pervasive on the Internet, and it’s getting worse by the day. The problem with fake news is that you have to dig deep into unreliable sources just to verify what’s true and what’s not before sharing it, and most people don’t have the time or patience to do that every time they read something. Luckily, there’s an easy solution called InVID that can verify videos and images with ease.
What is InVID?
If you’re not familiar with InVID, it’s a handy plugin that allows users to verify videos and images, as well as debunk fake news. InVID is available for free on both Chrome and Firefox, and can be installed in just a few clicks. Once installed, you’ll see a blue icon next to the URL bar when viewing any website. You can click this icon at any time to verify media content or search for hoaxes or fakes. Verifying is quick and easy—just select the link from the dropdown menu to scan the site for fakes, then hit Find Hoax. The plugin will automatically look for untruths by comparing its scanning data against a database of known fake images.
Getting Started with InVID
Want to help fight fake news? There’s a plugin for that. InVID is a browser extension that allows users to verify videos and images, as well as debunk false information. Here’s how to get started with InVID!
- Install the plugin in your browser of choice.
- Go to any video or image that you’re unsure of and click on Verify this video or Verify this image.
- To debunk an item, click on Bust this hoax!
- Once finished with your review, you can share it with others by clicking on Report.
- If you want to do more background research, check out the About tab where there are links to all sorts of resources about verification and busting hoaxes.
- Finally, if you would like to become an InVID Verifier yourself, go to Become a Verifier. Follow the steps listed on that page to learn more about becoming a trusted expert who has access to our tools.
- If you have questions about using InVID, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers.
- For updates from the team at InVID, follow us on Twitter @invidplugin.
How does it work?
The InVID plugin works by cross-referencing videos and images against a database of verified content. If a video or image is found to be fake, it will be flagged for users to see. This way, you can be sure that the content you’re consuming is accurate and trustworthy. Users with accounts on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter will also be able to flag posts they believe are fake, which other users then vote on. As more people vote on posts, they’ll move up in ranking, so legitimate posts stay visible while false ones disappear from view.
Limitations of using InVID
While InVID is a helpful tool in the fight against fake news, it has its limitations. First, it can only be used on Chrome browsers. Second, it relies on users to submit videos and images for verification, which means that not all content will be checked. Third, even when InVID does verify content, there is no guarantee that the source is reliable. Fourth, InVID can only check publicly available content; if someone posts a fake video or image on a private page, InVID cannot verify it.
There are ways to install plugins for other browsers, but these are much less common than Google Chrome. Finally, some people may find the idea of an internet plugin a little unsettling because it gives more power to third parties like Google.