WhatsApp has dropped the limit of forwarding messages by 70%. The company introduced this measure at the beginning of April. As a result of spreading false news and messages about the pandemic coronavirus.
You recall that on the social media platform users can forward a lot of messages to groups and individuals. But this liberty created by social media giants to its users as opened a doorway for false and misinformation about the coronavirus.
WhatsApp Response To The False Information.
The social media giant has to step forward and protect its reputation. That’s why they initiated a way to limit the number of forwarding messages to groups and individuals.
Changes Made
The limiting of forwarding messages means that, any message that has been forwarded by five or more persons before. It is now reduced to a group or a single user.
The news shows that WhatsApp’s new feature has successfully held in slowing down the spread of viral messages. One thing is that, people still have the option of forwarding messages manually.
However it’s impossible to know which messages are useful or harmful that WhatsApp is trying to stop.
Why Whatsapp call For The Change.
Certain governments had called on the attention of the company. On how misinformation is been spread using the platform. Since the outbreak of the pandemic certain sects have to use the platform to spread misinformation, cures about the pandemic.
Most especially through the WhatsApp groups. The groups contain about 256 users. Which means messages can quickly spread across to other users and individuals.
WhatsApp Statement
‘We’ve seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding messages which users have told us a feel overwhelming and can contribute to the spread of misinformation, ‘ the company said.
When it announced the new feature. ‘ We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation ‘.
This is not the first time WhatsApp has been employing changes to message forwarding. In 2018, WhatsApp starts to label messages that the person you receive the message from us not the original source.
WhatsApp has also partnered with the World Health Organisation WHO. To build a bot, which helps give users verified information about the coronavirus.
