WhatsApp views to curb FAKE NEWS

Keeping people socially connected during this unprecedented time of physical separation, this social media platform is also being relied upon by the World Health Organisation and governments around the world, as a critical and vital service for sharing information about the coronavirus pandemic.

Amid concerns about the panic created by the spread of fake news, WhatsApp has implemented new limits on message forwarding. Messages identified as “highly forwarded” can now be forwarded to only a single person at a time, as opposed to five at once. The idea is to slow the spread of viral information, giving the truth a chance to catch up with falsehoods.

WhatsApp has been used to share false content around the world for years, but concern about the issue has reached a peak during the coronavirus crisis. WhatsApp said it has seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding, which can feel overwhelming to users and can contribute to the spread of misinformation. And there is no shortage of people sharing rumours, fake “cures” for coronavirus, and conspiracy theories on the app.

We admire the sense of social responsibility that this company is bringing to its game. Now, wouldn’t it be great to see a creative solution for trolling and cyber-bullying?