Many might assume otherwise, but Google FortuneTelling isn’t an official Google product. It’s owned by a Netherlands-based communications company called BrainMedia who came up with this Google-imitation for a social cause. “So we used a fake Google site to get your attention because apparently, you were interested in your own future. Please take a moment to think of their future,” the website reads.
A clever initiative by the site’s owners who support donations to the United Nations Refugee Agency — UNHCR — the google-based design helps the website’s cause and the search engine giant hasn’t reported the site for using its logo. The website interface is a copy of Google’s homepage and as soon as you try typing in the search bar, it auto-populates with several questions which are all derived from uncertainties faced by refugees concerning their future.
Following that, the website redirects to a page which reads, “Of course we can’t predict your future! But 60 million refugees ask themselves every day if they have a future at all.” The website has links to images and videos of refugees on Google, links to share the campaign on social media as well as a link to donate to the UNHCR.
The refugee crisis is creating a lot of distress among those affected directly as well as among those whose country are accommodating the affected and educating the latter crowd about the refugee’s predicament can be a huge plus to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. The website will certainly be unable to predict your future, but will surely open up your eyes towards the questions asked by refugees and understand their pain better.
