WhatsApp, a US-run messaging service, says it has recorded a 70 percent drop in “highly forwarded” messages on its platform, weeks after its message limiting feature was introduced.
TheCable Lifestyle had earlier reported how the social media app announced that it will limit the rate at which messages are being forwarded on the platform to curb spread of fake news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding which users have told us can feel overwhelming and can contribute to the spread of misinformation. We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for a personal conversation,” the company had said earlier this month.
But in a statement issued on Monday, WhatsApp said the measure has significantly reduced the number of “highly forwarded” messages.
“We recently introduced a limit to sharing ‘highly forwarded messages’ to just one chat. Since putting into place this new limit, globally there has been a 70% reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages sent on WhatsApp,” BBC quoted a spokesman of the company as saying.
“WhatsApp is committed to doing our part in tackling viral messages. This change is helping keep WhatsApp a place for personal and private conversations.”
Tech experts like Imran Ahmed, chief executive of Center for Countering Digital Hate, however, said WhatsApp and other social media giants need to do more to tackle misinformation during the period of the pandemic.
“More needs to be done by social media giants such as WhatsApp. There is still a vast amount of misinformation on the platform. The 70% figure seems to mask a lot of complexity on a topic where the nuance is critically important,” he told the news outlet.
Copyright 2024 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.
Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle