WhatsApp tightens message forwarding limits to slow the spread of coronavirus misinformation

Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp, which has more than 2 billion users worldwide, on Tuesday has tightened message forwarding limits, restricting users to sharing forwarded content one chat at a time after a jump in messages touting bogus medical advice since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 70,000 people worldwide, has been accompanied by what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called an “infodemic” of misinformation, urging governments and other authorities to urge social media companies to do more to combat the problem.

WhatsApp in a blog post said that it made the change after observing a “significant increase” in the number of forwards since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

“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.