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MESSAGING APP WHATSAPP has announced today that it is introducing restrictions on the forwarding of messages through its platform in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 misinformation.
Large volumes of misinformation around the novel coronavirus have been circulated through messaging and social media apps since the virus first appeared back in December 2019.
Factchecking organisations and outlets, including TheJournal.ie, have been working tirelessly to debunk misinformation, while social media companies are also trying to restrict the flow of such content.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, said it has seen “a significant increase in the amount of forwarding” of content over recent weeks and that users report feeling “overwhelmed” by the volume.
In a blogpost today, the company said it is removing its rule that messages can only be forwarded to a maximum of five people at a time, and is now introducing a new rule that messages can only be forwarded to one person at a time.
“With billions of people unable to see their friends and family in person due to Covid-19, people are relying on WhatsApp more than ever to communicate. People are talking to doctors, teachers, and isolated loved ones via WhatsApp during this crisis.
“However, 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 are now introducing a limit so that these messages can only be forwarded to one chat at a time.
The company said that while it is not stopping people from forwarding messages to whomever they like, they are restricting people from forwarding messages, videos etc. to more than one person in one go.
It hopes the move will slow down the spread of misinformation around the Covid-19 health crisis in countries around the world.
Other companies, including Twitter, have also taken measures to help slow the spread by adding links to the World Health Organisation and the HSE websites where accurate and fact-based information can be obtained.
WhatsApp also added that forwarding messages on its platform is not, in itself, a bad thing as ”many users forward helpful information, as well as funny videos, memes, and reflections or prayers they find meaningful”.
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Well, that’s going to be a pain for sending on jokes.
Seriously, they should be able to track the origin of the message and remove the user from the platform.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Exactly what I was thinking. A massive amount of the increase in forwarding that they will have been experiencing will be down to people sending on funny memes, jokes and videos to keep spirits up.
@Jim Buckley Barrett:
If we could get them to shut down Facebook itself, then Twitter and then the comments section of the Journal, the world would be far better off.
I could live without being sent hundreds of videos telling me that this is the funniest thing ever. After you watch it you realise its not.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: just quit them yourself, no?
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh:
I’d say you’re great craic.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: jokes! Wink, Wink
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: “I don’t want it so nobody should have it”. Seems reasonable
@Forest Hump: @JusticeForJoe:
It’s got nothing to do with me or what I want. Whether I am on it or not is irrelevant.
Social media has been seriously detrimental to society, It should be far more highly restricted than it is. It has given basically one very large corporation enormous control of information.
We have seen from the UK and US and even our own elections how it has been used to negatively manipulate opinion and affect government selection.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh:
So your personal views are those of society as a whole.
You do realise that you can take responsibility for your own dealings with social media , even electricity, water ,gas etc.
Nobody is twisting your arm.
I use social media because I want to and I enjoy it.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: I agree, most of what I receive and send are jokes or reputable News sources. I don’t send on suspicious articles (I just ridicule the sender).
The muppets who believe ridiculous claims will not be deterred from sending on that information, but people sending on jokes or fun otems won’t be bothered.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: So you’ve come to the comments section of The Journal to advocate for the shutting down of the comments section of The Journal ?
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: or
“You won’t believe what happens next!”
Then nothing happens
@Who cares?: I never said that they were clean jokes :)
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I’d say your great craic at those parties you cant attend
@Jim Buckley Barrett: it’s end to end encryption. They can’t see what’s in the messages. Allegedly.
If people have to be protected against advice on drinking bleach to cure the condition, I’d say let them off
@Declan Edward: does that include a misinformed parent feeding it to their innocent child?
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: any parent who doesn’t have the intelligence not to do it clearly should not be the guardian of an innocent child
I think this cynical move is more about conserving bandwidth and storage as WhatsApp are paying for all the forwarded message traffic.
It’s time to find an alternative messaging platform for forwarding on
Jokes and that. Does anyone have any suggestions??
@Henry Toye: alright number 2? be seeing you!
@Henry Toye: status and telegram. You can set telegram to auto delete. Both virtually the same. I’ve move to them from WhatsApp last year after having some information and privacy concerns.
@ThatLJD: Thank you.
@Who cares?: Good shot Sir!
@Who cares?: I say! Good shot,Sir!
@Ken Mason: bit of a blinding!
@Henry Toye: try ‘signal’, just like whatsapp but free and they care about privacy
@Henry Toye: Telegram is good.
I’d be more worried about the pictures I’m receiving of a guy sitting on a bed with his weapon of mass destruction on view!
@David Farrelly: I’ve seen him in jaws, Ghostbusters. I’ve seen more of him than I have my own family.
This will be the death of WhatsApp another similar platform will come along and finish it off
@Paul Knowles: Its called Signal
Wait wait, they are reading my messages??
This is why I’m now moving to Signal, it’s not controlled by Facebook and you can forward messages on to as many people as you like, why doesn’t Facebook stop the forwarding on Facebook Messanger as well? No consistency here.
The problem is society not the platforms. People need to be educated to think for themselves and not believe something just because it triggers an emotional reaction.
Nice one don’t worry about sharing photos of be-headings etc, but misinformation that has to be stamped out.
People should only get access to social media after providing several documents to prove their identity, and then be approved by the platform, this would kill off many bullies and trolls. It’s having many negative effects on humans. Telecom apps won’t have the same level of exposure at least, but all platforms have their own role to play.
@Alan Currie: and then they’ll say GDPR blah blah blah…
@Seriousnojoke: they could maybe setup another platform for those types under the category of antisocial media
@Alan Currie: waah waah waah, the bully said mean things to me mammy! What age are you? Grow up and ignore/block what you don’t like on social media and if you still can’t handle it guess what? Don’t use it!
@Dino: I guess you’re peeved that it would remove people like yourself who add absolutely nothing of intellectual value to the conversation.
Ridiculous.. how do I forward jokes .. I’m following every guideline for covid-19 and I am doing my duty, but I 100% do not agree with these big brother type changes. Human nature means there’s the odd mixed message going around but this tip toeing to overly PC totalitarianism is going to have to stop at some point. .
Don’t update the app and nothing will change
So does that mean that China will not be able to post claims that there are no new cases of Covid 19
@Ger O’Reilly: No homegrown cases. Theyre not shy about throwing imported cases from “foreigners” under the bus
Those are ok to be highlighted
Keeping the 5g info hidden
Maybe a notification to the people who believe it and forward it on that they need some common sense. It’s is actually frightens me the people I know who believe a lot of these, allegedly intelligent people, like teachers!!
have your say