WhatsApp limits message forwarding to one person at a time

WhatsApp limits message forwarding to one person at a time

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Last year Whats app limited the possible forwarding of a message to five and created the "double date" that indicated when something had been highly forwarded with the aim of each person judging its validity or possible dissemination. Today, Whats app has changed its policy and limited the forwarding of messages to one chat at a time. 

There are two main objectives for which this measure is taken. The first of them is to avoid saturation of messages that can overwhelm users. In times where we use it more than ever, memes, thoughts, complaints and other information that may not always be of interest to the user goes from one conversation to another quickly. 

The other objective, and where it can be most useful, is in the control of disinformation. We have been able to see in recent weeks how the hoaxes regarding the pandemic that is being suffered have grown, both on Whats app and Twitter, and it is a way to control it.

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Whats app affirms that there is nothing against message forwarding since it is almost always useful information, but they have also "seen a significant increase in the number of forwarding that users consider can be overwhelming and can contribute to spreading disinformation "

This has prompted them to consider a similar measure with the idea of returning to the application's objectives. Or said in his own words: "We believe that it is important to decrease the transmission of these messages to maintain Whats app as a space for a personal conversation."This does not mean that forwarding is prohibited, but rather that the user will have to take more trouble to do it, which will possibly discourage him if it is not information that he really values as useful. 

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The past limitation of message forwarding caused a sharp decrease of up to 25% fewer messages forwarded globally. And in an era where Whats app has become a much-needed communication tool, the company sends a message about what its role should be and what it is assuming: "We believe that now more than ever, people need to be able to communicate privately. Our team is working hard to keep Whats app running during this unprecedented global crisis. "