WhatsApp introduces new measures to combat COVID-19 related fake news

Whatsapp posted on their official blog that they now have a new policy which limits users to forwarding certain messages to one “chat” at a time. This aims to limit the rapid sharing of potentially false content.

Last year, they launched the update where a user can now forward to only five chats at once to help reduce forwarded messages around the world. They also introduced users to messages are labeled with double arrows to indicate they did not originate from a close contact.

Now, they are introducing a limit so that those double arrow messages can only be forwarded to one chat at a time. Based on my own research, I can easily forward a new message to up the maximum of 5 “chat” groups at a time. If the message I want to forward has the double arrows on top of it, Whatsapp only allows me to share it with one “chat”.

“As a private messaging service, we’ve taken several steps over the years to help keep conversations intimate,” they wrote. However, the change doesn’t completely prevent multi-forwarding, since the same message can be passed on to more than one “chat” if you repeat the process over and over again.

Though Whatsapp’s aim is to slow down the sharing of fake news, not all forwarded messages are bad, “We know many users forward helpful information, as well as funny videos, memes, and reflections or prayers they find meaningful. In recent weeks, people have also used WhatsApp to organise public moments of support for frontline health workers.”

Whatsapp is working directly with NGOs and governments, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help connect people with accurate information. They are also working with Facebook to curb a rumours and hoaxes about Covid-19, and at the same time promoting verified content.

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