WhatsApp is rolling out an update globally on iOS to limit the number of messages a user can forward at one time. Already applied in Brazil, this measure aims to stem the spread of fake news.
Preventing users from sharing false information too quickly with many contacts is the primary objective of a new measure expected soon on WhatsApp. Adopted in Brazil three years ago, this measure is part of the group’s efforts Meta (Facebook) to limit misinformation. As reported 9to5Mac, this new feature is currently being tested through the WhatsApp iOS 22.7.0.76 beta. For the time being, the Android version of the application does not seem to be affected.
A screenshot taken by the specialized site WABetaInfo, which tested this beta, shows us the banner that will appear to inform the user of this new limitation. Beyond reducing the naive sharing of fake news, this restriction should also make it possible to stem, at least in part, the spread of spam on the messaging application.
Only message transfers are affected
Note that this “feature” only applies to message forwarding. If you are the original sender of the message, you can send it without constraint to as many people as you want. For message forwarding, however, users will only be able to forward one message at a time.
We also learn that in Brazil, the concept goes a little further: the application differentiates between a message transferred once and messages relayed several times. In the first case, the message can then be shared with a maximum of five different conversations; while in the second it can only be transferred once.
For the moment, no deployment date is mentioned for this limitation. However, it should arrive soon on our iPhones, potentially in the company of another novelty currently in preparation: the Community tab, which should replace the Camera tab if we are to believe it. WABetaInfo. This feature should give group admins more control, but it will still be group chat protected by end-to-end encryption.
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