What’s the latest on WhatsApp Messenger?

WhatsApp users in South Africa receive all sorts of viral messages that spread misinformation or “fake news” in groups. This has contributed to paranoia and fear when trying to distinguish whether these messages are real or fake.

As a measure, WhatsApp announced that it would end the reign of “fake news” with an update that globally restricts the number of people a message can be forwarded to. WhatsApp now limits users to forwarding a message only five times, in an attempt to cut down on the spread of misinformation.

Fact-checking NGO Africa Check has also decided to fight the spread of misinformation through a service that can either authenticate or disprove content shared on WhatsApp. Africa Check said that they are working on a platform that would authenticate or disprove a message sent via WhatsApp. All a user has to do is send the message to Africa Check WhatsApp number or take a screenshot and tweet it to Africa Check for results.

Please send us screenshots of the latest dodgy warning or hoax you received on #WhatsApp! We want to fact-check them & send the truth back via a voice note ? https://t.co/A6gvbrE9up

— Kate Wilkinson ?? (@kateomega) March 27, 2019