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WhatsApp has been spotted testing a new feature that would change the way we forward messages.\\
WhatsApp will soon restrict forwarding messages to more than one group.\\ WhatsApp is testing the possibility to forward messages to only one group chat at a time.\\
WhatsApp, has been spotted testing a new feature that would change the way we forward messages. What's App, will soon restrict forwarding messages to more than one group. The messaging app was spotted testing the feature. If the feature makes it to the final update, it would be difficult for a lot of users who aimlessly forward messages without even reading them most of the time. This move would also curb the spread of fake news or misinformation to an extent.\\
WhatsApp, had previously, rolled out an update that allowed users to forward messages to one chat at a time. WhatsApp, had set limits on forwarded messages to constrain vitality. This move was announced after WhatsApp, started labeling the messages that are forwarded multiple times with double arrows. Now the messaging app is probably looking to expand the feature to group chats. As per Walesa info, WhatsApp is testing the possibility to forward messages to only one group chat at a time.\\
“When a message is marked as forwarded, it’s no longer possible to forward it to more than one group chat at a time. If you need to forward this message to more than one group chat, you need to select the message and forward it again,” the report mentions.\\
So if you are trying to forward a message with a forwarded label on it, it will no longer be possible to forward it to more than one group chat at a time. If you wish to go forward to more than one group chat, you will have to select the message and forward it again. Previously, WhatsApp had introduced a limit so that these messages could only be forwarded to one chat at a time.\\
“Last year we introduced users to the concept of messages that have been forwarded many times. These messages are labeled with double arrows to indicate they did not originate from close contact. In effect, these messages are less personal compared to typical messages sent on WhatsApp. We are now introducing a limit so that these messages can only be forwarded to one chat at a time,” WhatsApp had said.\\
The feature is currently being tested, and it is being rolled out to certain beta testers, and it’s going to be enabled for everyone in the next few days. Misinformation and rumors are a big issue in today's world. The juicier the rumor, the higher are its chances of spreading like wildfire and hurting society — even causing mob violence in some instances.
To combat this issue, major messaging and social media platforms have various restrictions in place. In 2019, WhatsApp prohibited users from sharing frequently forwarded messages to more than five chats at once. A year later, it further lowered this limit to just one conversation. Now, the Facebook-owned messaging service is looking to restrict the forwarding of all messages to just one group chat.\\
Currently, WhatsApp has this restriction in place for viral or frequently forwarded messages. Once a message is shared more than four times, it is marked as frequently forwarded — they are denoted by a double arrow and a Forwarded label on top. However, going by the change in the beta program, it looks like the restriction will soon come into effect for regular messages as well.
As spotted by Info in v2.22.7.2 of WhatsApp beta for Android, users are shown a warning — "Forwarded messages can only be sent to one group chat" — whenever they try to forward a regular message to more than one\\
It is unclear why WhatsApp is making this change, but it is possible that it further wants to limit the spread of misinformation and rumors on its platform. The limitation will make it annoying to forward a chat to more than one group at once — users will need to share the message individually in each group. This should be enough of a deterrent to reduce the spread of misinformation. It might also reduce the number of unwanted memes and good morning messages on the platform.\\
WhatsApp will let users share frequently forwarded messages with only one chat at a time, aiming to curb misinformation and fake news being spread about the coronavirus pandemic.\\
The Facebook-owned platform, which has more than 400 million active users in India, introduced the new feature at a time when WhatsApp is being used by people to stay connected amid global lockdowns.\\
In addition to introducing a new feature to limit forward message sharing on its platform, WhatsApp is also working with several non-government organizations and governments, including the World Health Organization and over 20 national health ministries, to help connect people with accurate information.
Recently, WhatsApp also enabled the ‘search on web’ feature that allows users to verify forwarded messages on the web. This makes it easy for users to self-verify the shared content before sharing any further. However, not all forwarded messages show up in the search on the web option. It pops up only on the forwards that have frequently been forwarded.
Both, the forward message sharing limit and search on web features are now available on WhatsApp for Android and iOS.
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