Meta is set to test a monthly cap on the number of messages WhatsApp users and businesses can send to recipients who have not replied, in an effort to tackle the platform’s growing spam problem.
According to the company, all messages sent will count toward a new per-month limit unless the recipient sends a response. Meta provided an example: “if you meet someone at a conference and send three messages, that counts against the limit.” The company did not disclose the exact number for the monthly cap but stated the change should not affect typical users. Instead, it is aimed at “people and businesses that blast messages and spam people.” Meta also confirmed the test will be implemented in “multiple countries in the coming weeks” but did not specify the locations.
This initiative is the latest attempt by Meta to manage spam on WhatsApp, which has more than 3 billion users. In recent years, the company has introduced various features and safeguards, which have mainly targeted political and commercial spam. However, these previous measures have been only partly effective, as spammers have been able to find ways around them.
The introduction of this new messaging limit comes as WhatsApp prepares to launch username support. This upcoming feature will allow users to connect with each other without having to share their phone numbers. This change could create more opportunities for spam to be distributed on the platform. A release date for the username feature has not been announced. The company is currently working on a handle reservation screen for Android, and last week similar code was discovered in the iOS beta version of the application.
