In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, the platform has reduced the number of people to whom we can transfer a message to five. The result: a 70% drop in the spread of viral messages, which are often false information. A new tool to combat these "fake news" is being developed. 

Wash your hands long enough, respect social distancing, stop kissing ... We know the health barrier gestures against the coronavirus, but less digital barrier gestures. To believe the WhatsApp platform, they are however effective against "fake news". 

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Messages forwarded to up to five people

WhatsApp indeed reveals that the measures taken since the onset of the pandemic have made it possible to drop by 70% the distribution of viral messages, that is to say the messages that users transfer by the tens, or even hundreds, and which often allow the spread of false information. 

Concretely, since the beginning of April, you can now only forward your message to a maximum of five people. So it seems to be effective. And to also allow its users to check for themselves what they receive, WhatsApp is currently developing another tool, which will offer the recipient of a message to learn about the subject of the message in question. 

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Failing to take on the role of arbitrator himself, WhatsApp, which belongs to Facebook, intends to strengthen the "fact-checking" capacities of each user.