Whatsapp has announced a new strict measure when it comes to forwarding messages to help minimize the current spread of fake news during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Facebook-owned app announced that frequently (more than five) forwarded messages can now only be sent to one chat at a time.
“Last year we introduced users to the concept of messages that have been forwarded many times. These messages are labeled with double arrows to indicate they did not originate from a close contact. In effect, these messages are less personal compared to typical messages sent on WhatsApp. We are now introducing a limit so that these messages can only be forwarded to one chat at a time.
As a private messaging service, we’ve taken several steps over the years to help keep conversations intimate. For example, we previously set limits on forwarded messages to constrain virality. At the time, we saw a 25% decrease in total message forwards globally, “ the company shared.
WhatsApp also encourages users to get in touch with local Fact Checking Organizations if they’re not sure about the information they receive.
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