WhatsApp tests limit on unanswered chats

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WhatsApp will soon test how many messages per month can be sent to contacts who haven't responded. Meta, the messaging app's parent company, is responding to the app's ongoing spam problem. The goal is to curb the mass sending of unwanted messages without restricting normal WhatsApp usage.

More than three billion people worldwide use WhatsApp. The messaging app has long been a part of everyday life – in private chats, groups, and business conversations. But with its enormous popularity, so too has the volume of spam. Messages from unknown contacts containing advertisements, phishing attempts, or fraudulent links are appearing more frequently. Meta now wants to take more stringent action and plans to limit the number of messages that can be sent to people who don't respond.

Meta tests message limit against spam

According to a report from TechCrunch, Meta has confirmed that WhatsApp will soon introduce a monthly limit on messages sent to contacts without a response. Each message that goes unanswered will count toward this limit. Only when a response is received will the conversation no longer count. For example, if someone sends three messages after meeting at a conference without receiving a response, all three will be counted toward the monthly quota.

How high this limit will be is still unclear. Meta has not yet provided any concrete figures. It also remains unclear in which countries the test will take place. The company only stated that the test will begin "in several countries in the coming weeks."

Normal use should not be restricted

Meta emphasizes that the change is not intended to impact normal WhatsApp usage. The limit is primarily aimed at individuals and businesses that send a lot of unanswered messages—typically spam. WhatsApp wants to prevent users from continuing to be flooded with mass advertising messages or fraudulent contact attempts.

WhatsApp has been fighting spam for years. Despite various measures, including forwarding restrictions and automatic spam filters, the problem persists. Spammers continue to find new ways to circumvent existing protection mechanisms. The new restriction is therefore another attempt to curb abuse of the messaging app.

Additional innovations in WhatsApp

In parallel with its anti-spam measures, WhatsApp is working on a new feature that introduces usernames. This should make it possible to connect without revealing one's phone number. This could increase privacy, but also poses new risks because it could make it easier for spammers to contact users.

Work on the username feature is already underway. A screen for reserving usernames has been discovered in the Android version of WhatsApp. Corresponding code has also been found in the iOS beta. An exact release date has not yet been determined.

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WhatsApp: A step against spam and for security

The planned message limit demonstrates that Meta continues to take the spam problem on WhatsApp seriously. The new system is intended to help reduce unwanted contact attempts without hindering everyday communication. Together with the upcoming username features, the platform could become more flexible, but also more secure, in the future. It is still unclear when and in which countries the new limit will be tested, and whether it will become a permanent change. However, one thing is clear: WhatsApp wants to strike a balance between open communication and protection against abuse. If the new system works, it could significantly change the way the messenger is used – especially for those who have previously used WhatsApp for spam and mass messaging. (Image: Shutterstock / BongkarnGraphic)