WhatsApp rolls out Forwarded Messages labelling for Android, iOS Users

In a bid to reduce spam messages forwarding, WhatsApp is all set to label the ‘Forwarded Messages‘ on the platform. This means if a message is forwarded from any user then it will be labelled as 'Forwarded.' In order to get this feature in your app, you need to install the latest version of WhatsApp.

According to WhatsApp this new feature will reduce spam message forwarding. Lately, several instances of several forwarded spam messages in India going viral are there. The messaging app wants its users to think before forwarding any message.

In a blog post, WhatsApp stated," starting today, WhatsApp will indicate which messages you receive have been forwarded to you. This extra context will help make one-on-one and group chats easier to follow. It also helps you determine if your friend or relative wrote the message they sent or if it originally came from someone else."

The Facebook-owned messaging app also added "WhatsApp cares deeply about your safety. We encourage you to think before sharing messages that were forwarded. As a reminder, you can report spam or block a contact in one tap and can always reach out to WhatsApp directly for help."

The social media platform had also published a full-page advertisement in Indian newspapers with tips to fight fake news. This advertisement comes just a week after the messaging app said that the government, civil society, and technology companies need to work together to fight fake news, provocative content, misinformation, and hoax messages that have a very negative impact on society and lead to violence. 

While WhatsApp has taken this massive step, many analysts have cast doubt on the social media app's ability or intent to really combat this menace.

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On July 2, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had written to WhatsApp asking it to take immediate steps to prevent the circulation of false information and provocative content, saying it "cannot evade accountability and responsibility".

To its response, WhatsApp said that it has the ability to prevent spam. However, as it doesn't have an access to the private messages, blocking can be done only based on user reports.