WhatsApp Messenger, popular text messaging
service, has reduced messages a user can forward
to five recipients, in an effort to reduce the spread
of false information.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
WhatsApp Messenger, acclaimed to be the
world’s most popular messaging app, is a
freeware and cross-platform messaging and Voice
over IP (VoIP) service owned by Facebook.
The application allows the sending of text
messages and voice calls, as well as video calls,
images and other media, documents, and user
location.
Previously, users could forward messages to up to
20 recipients, but now the limit will be five.
According to USA TODAY, from Monday, all users
on the latest versions of WhatsApp can now
forward to only five chats at once.
“Like Facebook, which has been battling misuse
on its platform, with 1.5 billion users – is also
fighting to wipe out fake information on the social
network.
“Despite five sounding like a small number,The
Verge points out that messages could still get
forwarded to groups, which can have as many as
256 people.
“That means a forwarded message could be put
in front of nearly 1,300 people, despite the five
time limit.â€
It added that WhatsApp carefully evaluated this
test and listened to user feedback over six
months.
Source:
guardian.ng/news/whatsapp-cuts-
recipients-of-forwarded-messages-to-curb-fake-
news/
