WhatsApp launches two new features for its users
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ISLAMABAD –WhatsApp launches two new features for its users to avoid fake news spread.
WhatsApp has taken an initiative to eradicate fake news from its platform by drastically restricting users’ ability to forward messages to others.
This new feature restricts forwarding a text to more than five people at a time to lessen the flow of misinformation on WhatsApp.
“Starting today, all users on the latest versions of WhatsApp can now forward to only five chats at once, which will help keep WhatsApp focused on private messaging with close contacts, the Facebook-owned company said in an emailed statement. “We’ll continue to listen to user feedback about their experience, and over time, look for new ways of addressing viral content.”
The change will apparently apply around the world. Facebook-owned WhatsApp has already been trying out increased restrictions for the last six months, a limit of 20 forwards globally, and just five in India, where WhatsApp has provided a vector for the spread of child abduction rumors that resulted in mob lynching.
“WhatsApp carefully evaluated this test and listened to user feedback over a six-month period,” the statement read. “The forward limit significantly reduced forwarded messages around the world.”
WhatsApp is working on two new tweaks to upgrade its forward feature. Calling it “Forwarding Info” and “Frequently Forwarded”, the two new changes were spotted in the works in the latest Android beta version.
The two features are not enabled yet, but they should be in future beta updates.
