WhatsApp Limits Unanswered Messages to Curb Spam
▼ Summary
– WhatsApp is implementing monthly limits on messages sent to unknown people without responses to combat spam.
– The app has evolved from personal messaging to include groups and business communications, increasing message volume.
– Users will receive warnings when approaching the limit to prevent being blocked from sending messages.
– This test targets spammers and businesses blasting messages, while average users won’t typically be affected.
– WhatsApp has expanded this experiment to multiple countries, including India with over 500 million users.
In a significant move to enhance user experience, WhatsApp is implementing new limits on how many messages can be sent to people who don’t respond. This strategy aims to tackle the growing issue of spam while preserving the platform’s core functionality for everyday communication. The messaging service, which has evolved far beyond simple person-to-person chats, now supports large groups, community discussions, and extensive business interactions. This expansion, however, has led to message overload for many users, making it difficult to manage incoming communications.
Under the new system, every message sent by an individual or a business to someone who does not reply will count toward a monthly cap. For example, sending three messages to a new contact made at a professional event would use up part of that allowance. WhatsApp has not publicly specified the exact numerical limit, as the company is currently trialing different thresholds to find the most effective one. Users who approach their messaging limit will receive an in-app warning. This notification displays their current count, allowing them to adjust their behavior and avoid being temporarily blocked from sending further messages.
The company has confirmed that these tests are active in several countries and will expand to more regions in the coming weeks. They emphasize that the average user is unlikely to ever reach this cap. The primary targets for these restrictions are accounts that engage in mass messaging and spam campaigns. For the vast majority of people using the app for personal conversations, the experience should remain completely unaffected.
Many users report inboxes filled with dozens of unread messages, a significant portion of which originate from businesses or unknown numbers. This is particularly evident in large markets where WhatsApp serves as a primary tool for everything from personal chats to commercial transactions.
This initiative is part of a broader, ongoing effort by WhatsApp to reduce spammy behavior on its platform. In July of this year, the company began testing restrictions on the volume of marketing messages businesses could dispatch monthly. Earlier in 2024, it introduced a feature allowing users to easily unsubscribe from business marketing blasts, enabling them to receive important updates or customer support without the clutter of promotional content.
Another recent experiment involved capping the number of broadcast messages that can be sent. This particular test is now being expanded to over a dozen countries, including India, one of WhatsApp’s most critical markets with a user base exceeding half a billion people.
(Source: TechCrunch)
