WhatsApp is limiting the variety of instances customers can ahead a message in a gaggle chat, a change designed to decelerate the unfold of misinformation on the platform.
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WhatsApp is at present testing a brand new characteristic that might cease spammers from bulk-forwarding a forwarded message to a number of group chats without delay.
This stops the identical message from being simply forwarded to additional group conversations, which may assist curb the dissemination of misinformation.
WhatsApp hasn’t stated when the characteristic may develop to everybody. It may nix the characteristic ought to it obtain predominantly damaging suggestions, so there’s that.
WhatsApp to restrict message forwarding in group chats
Bulk message-forwarding is an actual downside, that’s how faux information and COVID-19 misinformation has managed to unfold quickly. However now, Meta-owned WhatsApp is testing limiting the variety of instances you’ll be able to ahead a message. In keeping with WABetaInfo, you’ll be able to not take the message that has already been forwarded to a gaggle chat and ahead it to a different group chat. In different phrases, the check restricts you from forwarding a message to a gaggle dialog simply as soon as.
Making an attempt to ahead a forwarded message from one group chat to a different will yield an error message warning the consumer that “Forwarded messages can solely be despatched to at least one group chat.” You possibly can nonetheless individually ship the identical message to a number of customers as you at all times have been. What this check does is just forestall you from re-forwarding the message that has already been forwarded in a gaggle chat.
The characteristic was uncovered from the WhatsApp for iOS beta, which is offered via Apple’s TestFlight software program (should you’re fortunate sufficient, the variety of beta testers per app is proscribed). Presently, anybody with a WhatsApp account can ahead a message to a gaggle dialog, after which ahead the identical message to further group chats.
These assessments can take anyplace from a number of weeks to a couple months to finish so there’s no telling when this characteristic may launch. WhatsApp can finally resolve to tug the characteristic in case of damaging suggestions. Watch this area as we’ll be ensuring to maintain you within the loop.