To address the escalating spam issue on WhatsApp, Meta will initiate trials for a monthly limit on the number of messages users can send to recipients who have not responded. Here are the specifics.
Meta has confirmed to TechCrunch that it will soon commence testing a monthly cap on how many messages both users and businesses can send to individuals who haven’t replied.
As per the report, “Every message sent by users and businesses to others will count toward this new monthly cap unless a response is received. For example, if you connect with someone at an event and send three messages, that will count against the cap.”
The company did not reveal what the limit will be, indicating that the change is not expected to affect regular users, but rather “individuals and businesses that send out mass messages and spam people.” Meta also did not specify where the testing will occur, only stating that it “will be active in several countries in the upcoming weeks.”
This is not the first instance of Meta attempting to tackle the increasing spam dilemma affecting over 3 billion WhatsApp users. In recent times, the company has introduced a range of features and protections, primarily aimed at political and commercial spam, measures that have been somewhat effective, as spammers tend to quickly devise workarounds.
Meta’s latest endeavor to handle spam arrives as WhatsApp gets ready to launch username support, allowing users to connect without disclosing their phone numbers, which could potentially heighten the chances for spam.
While a release date has not been announced, the company is already developing a handle reservation interface on Android, and similar code was recently identified in the iOS beta.
