What's crap on WhatsApp? Here's how to use Africa Check to find out

"Criminals are now lying in front of your gate, when you open, they attack you."

"A new drug called flakka has made its way to South Africa. It is much stronger than cocaine. Over 30 people have died from it. Please be aware."  

Are you tired of misinformation being peddled on WhatsApp? Are you fed-up with blocking and unblocking a relative or colleague spreading viral messages?

Many people go into panic mode after receiving disturbing viral messages via WhatsApp.

Now there is a way to authenticate or disprove content shared on the app.

Africa Check, a fact-checking NGO, has launched a service to help WhatsApp users distinguish between fact and fiction.

Acting deputy chief editor at Africa Check Kate Wilkinson says Africa Check has  partnered with an NPO, Volume Investigations, to offer the service.

Wilkinson said the NPO was "dedicated to the production of investigative audio shows and improving the state of radio journalism in Africa".

"We are partnering with them to tackle misinformation and fake news on WhatsApp."

She said the service was going to be called What's Crap on WhatsApp.

If you receive a dodgy message you can send it to Africa Check's WhatsApp number.

Wilkinson encouraged people to forward them dodgy videos and viral messages. In turn they would receive a "voice note" debunking false information doing the rounds.

"We are going to be collecting those over the next month or so. We are looking at releasing a show once a month which will be in a new innovative format designed for WhatsApp.

"We are going to design specific content to debunk false information on WhatsApp. That will probably be in the format of a voice note show, so it will be short audio clips which will do a roundup of the hoaxes and the worst fake news of the last month," she said.   

Wilkinson said it would be shared with those who follow them on WhatsApp.

She said they had "enormous difficulty" knowing the extent and scale of misinformation and fake news on WhatsApp.

"... That's because it's private and there are good reasons for that communication to be private and for us not be able to see it. Misinformation is like a mushroom, it grows quickly in the dark."

She said they had received tremendous support for the initiative.

As an example, Wilkinson said they had received a voice note in which a man claims that criminals are handing out business cards coated with poison. The victims became ill and were robbed.

"What we see are the fear mongering messages or warnings which prey on people and we hope that our debunking and fact-checking can help introduce some reasonable and thoughtful conversation about these warnings.

"If there is one that is potentially dangerous or spreading fear and paranoia, we can respond to it and then people can share the truth in the WhatsApp group."