WhatsApp restricts message forwarding to eliminate phony news

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WhatsApp limits message forwarding to fight fake news

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WhatsApp is putting a worldwide limitation of 5 on the variety of times a message can be forwarded in an effort to eliminate the spread of reports and false information on the social media.

“Starting today, all users on the latest versions of WhatsApp can now forward to only five chats at once, which will help keep WhatsApp focused on private messaging with close contacts,” a WhatsApp spokesperson stated in a declaration, verifying a Reuters report. WhatsApp users were formerly enabled to forward a message 20 times.

The spread of false information has actually been a consistent issue on Facebook- owned WhatsApp and other social media networks. Social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter are still facing the discovery that Russia- connected social networks giant accounts might have affected the result of the 2016 United States governmental election.

WhatsApp, which has more than a billion everyday users, started checking the message limitation in India in July following a wave of mob violence and lynchings because nation blamed on false information spread on the social media. On July 1, 5 individuals were supposedly lynched in Dhule, India, after a report flowed on the app that they were kid kidnappers. At least 12 individuals were beaten as an outcome of comparable messages.

“WhatsApp carefully evaluated this test and listened to user feedback over a six-month period. The forward limit significantly reduced forwarded messages around the world,” the WhatsApp spokesperson stated. “We’ll continue to listen to user feedback about their experience, and over time, look for new ways of addressing viral content.”

Originally released at 8: 37 a.m. PT
Updated at 2: 50 p.m. with WhatsApp declaration.

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