Your WhatsApp groups might not be as busy from now on…
WhatsApp is to introduce worldwide restrictions on the number of recipients users can forward messages to, effective immediately.
According to Reuters, the messaging service revealed plans to roll out the policy at an event in Jakarta on Monday, with users permitted to forward messages to a maximum of five individuals or groups from now on.
Users were previously able to forward messages to a maximum of 20 individuals or groups.
The policy is being introduced in an effort to combat “misinformation and rumours,” said WhatsApp executives. The policy of forwarding messages to a maximum of five recipients had been implemented in India last summer after the spreading of rumours on social media led to killings and attempted lynchings.
“We’re imposing a limit of five messages all over the world as of today,” Victoria Grand, Vice President for policy and communications at WhatsApp, said at the event.
WhatsApp head of communications Carl Woog confirmed to Reuters that an update would be rolled out to activate the new policy on Monday (21 January), which will be available to Android users first, followed by users of iOS.
The introduction of the new policy comes as WhatsApp seeks ways to combat misuse of the app, such as the spreading of false information, manipulated photos, hoax audio and video content, amongst its 1.5 billion users worldwide.
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