Uber Not Offering “Walking Buddy” Option: Viral Screengrab Resurfaces
Like many, I often do a late-night scroll on social media. While scrolling through the memes, the engagement and baby announcements, and the weird AI filters some people are really getting into, I came across a screen grab of Uber pricing. What made it âstop-scrolling worthyâ is that on the list of transportation options was a âwalking buddyâ option. Interestingly, this same screengrab has made an appearance last year and has resurfaced once again.
Does Uber Really Offer A âWalking Buddyâ Option?
Itâs true when people say, âDonât believe everything you read on the internet.â This is especially true in the age of AI and deep fakes. But the post I saw on Facebook seemed believable. It was shared by a verified account and has racked up over 203k impressions, over 54k shares, and more than 7.1k comments.
If you open up your Uber app and request a ride, you will not see the âwalking buddyâ option. I only checked to see if this news has changed since last year’s rounds. Interestingly, Reuters Fact Check previously did a deep dive into this screengrab. According to the report, the image was first circulated in 2020, when Uber Gotta get those steps in. đ https://t.co/vMzBy4X9VP
An Uber spokesperson, Conor Ferguson confirmed via email to Reuters that the screenshot is fake. While many users recognized the tweet as a joke, some took it seriously. Â One Uber CEO: How do we turn a profit?
Intern: Imagine Uber but no car... pic.twitter.com/ysoMbxBsLR
If you must know: Uber does offer many services like rideshare, delivery, bikes and scooters, and more. But nothing about walking buddies, at least according to their website.
Back In Circulation
Recently, someone took to Reddit to share the screengrab, saying âIdk if this is actually real but itâs hilarious either way. Also, why are they holding hands [laughing emoji].â Several people took to the thread to let the poster know it was not real. Someone jokingly wrote, âItâs funny I just picture someone walking up like here take my hand. Letâs go.â One person said, âMain question is why am I paying to walk.â The comment that took the cake was someone saying, theyâll only do it if theyâre âgetting carriedâ on the transports back.
But some people didnât get the memo. âCreeps are def going to sign up for this s—. The number of cancelations will skyrocket,â someone said. Another person said, âI ainât paying Uber for someone to walk with me the f—. And Ubers assault numbers are way too high to trust any of their employees to walk you somewhere.â
We’ve officially entered an era where seeing is no longer believing. Some people have become photoshop wizards and AI can now fully create images, videos, and voices, and these creations are popping up more and more.
If you encounter something on social media and are unsure of its authenticity, search for the company’s name online. You might find a website, news story, or user review that clarifies whether what you’re seeing is genuine. Additionally, visiting the company’s website directly and checking the “Frequently Asked Questions” or company information sections can also be helpful.