WhatsApp limits how many chat groups messages can be forwarded to

WhatsApp is combating misinformation by limiting the sharing of viral messages, so users can forward it to only one group at a time. — Unsplash

WhatsApp is limiting how many people a user can forward messages to, potentially slowing down the spread of misinformation.

Leaker site WABetaInfo reported that the limit works by allowing users to forward a message that has been flagged as “forwarded many times” to only one group chat at a time.

WhatsApp flags messages that have been forwarded more than five times with two forward arrows versus the usual single forward arrow, in order to warn that the message had been widely shared or had gone viral.

In a screenshot by WABetaInfo, the app blocked the attempted mass forwarding with a message that read “forwarded message can only be sent to one group chat”.

“As you can see in this screenshot, it is no longer possible to forward forwarded messages to more than one group chat at a time and this is an additional way to limit spam and misinformation,” it speculated.

Normally, messages can be forwarded to up to five group chats.

The site said the new limits were being imposed on iOS users, after being tested on Android beta testers.