WhatsApp to Limit Messages Sent Without Replies

To tackle its growing spam problem, WhatsApp is introducing a new measure that will restrict how many messages users can send to people who haven’t replied. Meta confirmed to TechCrunch that it will soon begin testing this change globally.

Meta’s New Anti-Spam Measure

According to Meta, all messages sent to recipients who haven’t responded will now count toward a monthly limit. For example, if you message someone three times without receiving a reply, all three messages will count against your limit.

The company hasn’t revealed what the exact cap will be but emphasized that it won’t affect typical users—only those who send bulk or unsolicited messages, such as spammers and certain businesses.

Global Testing Coming Soon

Meta says the test will roll out in multiple countries in the coming weeks, though no specific regions were mentioned.

This update follows years of attempts to reduce spam on WhatsApp, which serves over 3 billion users worldwide. Despite previous anti-spam features, many spammers have continued to find loopholes.

Username Feature May Increase Spam Risks

Interestingly, this move comes as WhatsApp works on introducing username support, letting users connect without sharing phone numbers. While this could improve privacy, it might also create new opportunities for spam.

WhatsApp has already been seen testing a handle reservation screen on Android, with similar code now appearing in iOS beta versions.