In order to slow down the Corona Virus misinformation which is widely shared online, the cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP service WhatsApp has decided to limit the message forwarding on its platform.
Since WhatsApp amounts to the largest sharing of information across the globe, Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp tightened message forwarding limits on Tuesday and the decision is taken at its head office at San Francisco. The new move restricts its users in sharing forwarded content one chat at a time.
“We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation,” the statement said. A WhatsApp spokesman said the new limit was in place indefinitely.
It can be noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called an “infodemic” of misinformation, prompting governments and other authorities to urge social media companies to do more to combat the problem. Close on the heels of the WHO’s call, WhatsApp has decided to limit the message forwarding. So far, the world recorded 75,000-plus deaths and 13.5 lakh confirmed cases of Covid-19.
