Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is developing a new feature designed to limit the number of messages that users and businesses can send to recipients who haven’t responded.
The move aims to reduce spam, scams, and unsolicited messages, which have become a growing problem on the app used by over two billion people worldwide.
According to a report by TechCrunch, WhatsApp is currently testing a monthly message limit for users who reach out to unknown contacts without receiving any response. Every outgoing message sent to a non-responding person will count towards this quota. While the company has not yet disclosed the exact limit, it is reportedly experimenting with different thresholds across multiple countries to determine the most effective restriction.
When this update becomes active, WhatsApp will notify users through a warning pop-up once they approach their monthly limit, showing how many messages they can still send. If users exceed the cap, they may be temporarily prevented from sending more messages to unknown individuals.
However, WhatsApp clarified that this new rule will not impact regular users who communicate with their saved contacts. The feature is primarily intended to curb spam and cold messaging, particularly from businesses or individuals who continuously message people who don’t respond. Notably, any message that receives a reply will not count towards the limit.
In recent years, WhatsApp has introduced several privacy-focused tools to tackle spam and misuse. These include simpler options to block contacts, unsubscribe from marketing messages, and leave unwanted groups. The platform also places restrictions on bulk messaging from new accounts to prevent misuse.
With the rollout of this message limit feature, WhatsApp aims to further enhance user security and privacy while reducing spam. The feature is currently in the testing phase and is expected to expand to more countries in the coming weeks.