How Whatsapp is changing its forwarding function
Facebook-owned messaging service introducing stricter limits to fight ‘infodemic’ of misleading medical advice
WhatsApp is striking back against fake news by imposing a new limit on how many times a viral message can be forwarded on the platform.
The move is aimed at tackling the growing number of messages on the Facebook-owned app that offer erroneous medical advice about the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an “infodemic” of misinformation relating to bogus cures for the virus, which has killed more than 83,000 people worldwide, reports The Telegraph.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Under the new WhatsApp limits, if a user receives a message that has been forwarded more than five times, they will only be able to send it on to a single chat at a time.
“That is one fifth the previous limit of five chats, imposed in 2019,” says The Guardian.
In a blog post published on Tuesday, WhatsApp said the service has “taken several steps over the years to help keep conversations intimate”.
“Is all forwarding bad? Certainly not,” the post adds, pointing to the use of the platform to share funny memes and to organise public support for various causes.
However, WhatsApp has “seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding which users have told us can feel overwhelming and can contribute to the spread of misinformation”, the statement continues, adding: “We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The Guardian says that by inserting “friction” into the process of sharing viral misinformation, the messaging service “hopes to slow some of the most viral messages on its platform, such as the widely spread falsehood that coronavirus is related to 5G” - a claim that has led to the vandalisation of more than 20 UK phone masts in less than a week.
The London Evening Standard adds that WhatsApp is “also testing ways to include more information about these viral messages”.
“One idea is that a little magnifying glass icon will be display next to frequently forwarded messages which will give users the option to see news stories and information resources relating to that particular message,” the newspaper says.
“This feature is currently in testing though, so won’t be available on your app just yet.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
LGBTQ+ rights in Iraq: how morality laws ramped up
The Explainer Same-sex relationships and gender reassignment surgery are now criminalised in latest attack on targeted community
By The Week UK Published
-
'Trump rarity: Verbal blasts may backfire'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
The underground Mona Lisa and the trouble with tourists
Why Everyone's Talking About Visitors to the Louvre have dubbed the crowded experience 'torture' as famous landmarks suffer from overtourism
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Speed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Covid four years on: have we got over the pandemic?
Today's Big Question Brits suffering from both lockdown nostalgia and collective trauma that refuses to go away
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How happy is Finland really?
Today's Big Question Nordic nation tops global happiness survey for seventh year in a row with 'focus on contentment over joy'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The hollow classroom
Opinion Remote school let kids down. It will take much more than extra tutoring for kids to recover.
By Mark Gimein Published
-
How Tehran became the world's nose job capital
Under the radar Iranian doctors raise alarm over low costs, weak regulation and online influence of 'Western beauty standards'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Africa's renewed battle against female genital mutilation
Under the radar Campaigners call for ban in Sierra Leone after deaths of three girls as coast-to-coast convoy prepares to depart
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Excess screen time is making children only see what is in front of them
Under the radar The future is looking blurry. And very nearsighted.
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published