Whatsapp's forwarding limit cuts viral messages by 70%
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Whatsapp’s latest rule to limit the times a message can be forwarded cut down viral texts by 70% on the platform.
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The measure, which was introduced earlier this month and aimed at preventing the spread of misinformation, has started to pay off, according to the Facebook-owned app.
WhatsApp said earlier in April that users on its platform can now send frequently forwarded messages they receive to only one person or a group at a time, down from five.
“We recently introduced a limit to sharing ‘highly forwarded messages’ to just one chat. Since putting into place this new limit, globally there has been a 70% reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages sent on WhatsApp,” a WhatsApp spokesperson told TechCrunch in a statement.
The brake on forwards will also help the platform to prevent scrutiny from regulatory authorities in many countries regarding the spread of fake news, especially now with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.