A fake Google Fortunetelling webpage went viral after promising users to predict their future, only to confront them with a very real and current issue.
At first glance, this new beta version of Google apparently claims to predict the future, allowing users to submit a question and have Google tell them their fortune on that matter.
As soon as you start typing a question, however, this Google Fortunetelling page starts to auto-fill the question bar with a preset list of questions such as "Where can I find a safe place?" "Will I ever be reunited with my family?" "Will humans ever stop fighting war?" "Is there a place where they will accept me?" and "Is there a place where I can give my children a safe future?" Try it.
A new page then appears and reveals the real purpose of this "fortunetelling website." The page highlights that it obviously cannot predict your future, but 60 million refugees wonder each day whether they have any future at all.
Using a fake Google site aims to raise more awareness of the refugee crisis and get the attention of users who were interested in their own future, prompting them to think about the refugees' future as well.
"With this project we want to create awareness. We need structural solutions on political level for this growing European problem. Please feel free to donate your time, money or love and spread the word," the site says.
The site further suggests that users check local initiatives regarding the refugee crisis, or donate to a charity. The initiative aims to get people to think of how it would be like to live with the uncertainty refugees have to face, not knowing whether they will ever find a safe haven, and get them to do something to help.
This fake Google Fortunetelling site is not actually affiliated with Google, but it used the search giant's brand to get to more people. The site comes from a Netherlands-based company that wants to urge people to acknowledge the pressing refugee issue rather than dismissing it with apathy and minding their own business.
The real Google, for its part, got involved in the matter as well and added banners to many of its sites, prompting users to donate to charity. Google promised to match donations until hitting a target of $11 million and kept its word.
