WhatsApp limits message forwarding to fight fake news

In order to fight fake news, messaging app WhatsApp has decided to limit the number of message forwarding.

The company announced that in its latest attempts to curb fake news and misinformation, users will now be able to forward a message only five times.

The change differs from previous message forwarding rules where users were able to forward a single message to up to 20 other individuals or groups. This change will now apply to all the 1.5 billion monthly users, reported Business Insider.

WhatsApp to curb fake news by labeling forwarded messages

The change was announced by WhatsApp’s vice president for policy and communications, Victoria Grand, at an event. Grand informed that the change will be rolled out worldwide, reported Reuters.

The five times limiting has been tested in India before, following a series of lynchings sparked by users mass-forwarding each other falsie information, reported The Verge.