Messaging application Whatsapp says it is making changes to its communication system to curb the spread of false information around COVID-19 which has caused mass confusion on the platform.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the platform noted how it had in 2019 introduced the concept of messages that have been forwarded many times and are labelled with double arrows to indicate that they did not originate from a close contact. In effect, these messages are less personal compared to typical messages sent on WhatsApp.
Whatsapp said it was now introducing a limit so that these messages could only be forwarded to one chat at a time.
The company previously set limits on forwarded messages to constrain virality and at the time, they saw a 25% decrease in total message forwards globally.
"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 personal conversations."
In addition to this change, Whatsapp said it was working directly with non-governmental organisations and governments, including the World Health Organization and over 20 national health ministries, to help connect people with accurate information.
The move comes as governments and civil society are struggling to contain the spread of misinformation as they grapple with the coronavirus.
South Africa has passed a new regulation in which those who create or spread fake news about COVID-19 will be liable for prosecution and face heavy fines or even jail time.
- African News Agency (ANA)
