WhatsApp tightens WhatsApp users will face new limits on forwarding certain messages as part of an effort to curb the spread of misinformation about the pandemic
WhatsApp on Tuesday set new limits on message forwarding as part of an effort to curb the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.
The new policy limits users to forwarding certain messages to one “chat” at a time, in an effort to limit the rapid spread of provocative but potentially false content.
The Facebook-owned messaging platform said it has taken necessary steps to allow people to focus on personal and private communications during the health crisis.
In recent weeks
“we have seen a significant increase in forwarding Poland WhatsApp Number List volume that users have reported can feel overwhelming and may contribute to the spread of misinformation,” WhatsApp said in a blog post.
“We believe it is important to slow down the spread of these messages so that WhatsApp remains a place for personal conversation.”
Last year, WhatsApp set limits on messages being forwarded to five chats at a time, “to limit virality,” in response to events in India where the rapid proliferation of unverified information led to mob violence.
The new policy applies to messages forwarded
“Multiple times” and marked with a double WhatsApp Number Database arrow, indicating they are not from a close contact, according to WhatsApp.
“Indeed, these messages are less personal than typical messages sent on WhatsApp,” the blog explained.
“We are now introducing a limit so that these messages can only be forward to one chat at a time.”
Damian Collins, a British member of parliament Bulk Database and co-founder of the fact-checking blog Infotagion, call the move a “timely intervention,” noting that WhatsApp was use to spread recent hoaxes that 5G wireless networks were spreading the virus.
