- WhatsApp started limited forwards to only one contact at a time to reduce the spread of misinformation. And it proved to be effective.
Recently, WhatsApp started limited forwards to only one contact at a time. This was done to reduce the spread of misinformation associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the feature was launched, WhatsApp saw positive results in only two weeks. There has been a 70% reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages.
“WhatsApp is committed to doing our part to tackle viral messages. 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. This change is helping keep WhatsApp a place for personal and private conversations,” said WhatsApp in a statement via TechCrunch.
Messages that are forwarded over five times is considered “highly forwarded.”
This is not the first time that WhatsApp limited forwards. A couple of years ago, WhatsApp limited the number of people you can forward messages to at the same time. And in India, the limit was made five people at a time upon launch. That change reduced forwards around 25%.
