There has been a number of cases wherein people took actions believing in fake WhatsApp messages. With the ease of sending messages to hundreds at the touch of a few buttons, people recklessly forward all kinds of messages without a second thought. While the messaging app has made it easy for people to be in touch, it has equal disadvantages.  With the increasing problems caused due to such fake messages, Telangana's Rachakonda police have released an awareness song explaining why one should not believe in rumours being spread on social media.

Being sung by a Telangana cop the video was shared on Twitter by Rachakonda police. The tweet reads, "Public awareness song by Rachakonda police on social media rumours." During a regional or national crisis, all sorts of messages on the topic gets forwarded on the messaging app in no time. The video advises people against taking law into their own hands believing in these suspicious messages. Sung by LB Nagar Traffic Inspector Anjapally Nagamallu, the song urges people to stay away from violence during times of distress.

Here is the video:

Nagamallu told The News Minute that he was inspired to try a unique way to educate people about these things after innocent people were killed by mobs on the suspicion that they were child traffickers believing in social media rumours. Reportedly, in Telangana, at least five people have been assaulted so far with people believing in fake messages.

Recently, Kerala Police had arrested five people for forwarding fake WhatsApp news on Nipah virus. Many-a-times Jammu and Kashmir government have banned social media in the valley during curfew to curb the spread of wrong messages unto people. The Sri Lankan government has banned the use of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp after declaring a state of emergency. While social media has made lives simpler for most of us, it comes with an equal share of problems. It is one's responsibility to ensure the authenticity of a message or news before sending it to others.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2018 10:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).