Paris (AFP)
Facebook announced Tuesday that WhatsApp users could no longer transfer viral messages to only one contact at a time, to limit the flow of information.
Messaging for the two billion users had already limited the number of shares to a maximum of five correspondents at the same time, in January 2019. It also marked with a double arrow the messages transferred from one user to another more than five times .
Now, any viral message (marked with a double arrow) can only be forwarded to one other conversation at a time.
"We know that many users transfer useful information, as well as funny videos, memes and thoughts or prayers that matter to them," said the messaging service on its website.
"However, we have also noticed a significant increase in transfers, which the users find too numerous, and which can contribute to the propagation of false information," the company said. "We think it is important to slow down the dissemination of these messages so that WhatsApp remains a personal conversation application."
Messaging has long been accused of promoting the spread of false news, which in some cases has led to tragedy.
Monday, a map supposed to represent the progressive deconfinement to come from France continued to be shared on this service, as well as alerts on an alleged massive "file" of the population via the digital displacement certificate.
WhatsApp ensures that previous measures against massive transfers have led to a 25% drop in the number of messages transferred worldwide.
Messaging also reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 20 ministries of health are using it to spread information about the pandemic, with more than 100 million messages already sent.
The French government for example launched at the end of March an automatic conversational agent ("chatbot") aiming to provide to the greatest number the latest official information, as well as health advice and recommendations, available by sending a message to 07.55.53.12.12.
© 2020 AFP