Amid misinformation and fake news during coronavirus pandemic, a fake message is being circulated on social media regarding "three ticks" on WhatsApp.
According to the purported message, while two blue ticks mean that the recipient has read the message, three blue ticks mean that the government has taken note of the message.
If there are two blue ticks and one red teak, it means that the government can take action against you, the fake message claimed.
If the number of ticks increases to two, it means the screening of the date by the government and three blue ticks mean that the action has been initiated, the message claimed.
The fake message was fact-checked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) which said in a tweet that the "Government is doing no such thing."
"Messages circulating on Social Media reading 'WhatsApp info regarding tick marks' is #FAKE," the PIB said.
As coronavirus cases rise in India and the world, social media has become the main source of fake news. Facebook's messaging platform WhatsApp is one of the major sources of fake news in India where messages circulate unabated.
Earlier on Tuesday, WhatsApp limited the sharing of frequently forwarded messages to one chat at a time.
The existing limit allowing users to forward a message for up to five times will continue as the new restriction is only for the frequently forwarded messages.
...we’ve seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding which users have told us can feel overwhelming and can contribute to the spread of misinformation. We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation," WhatsApp said.
The world's most popular messaging service is also working directly with NGOs and governments, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and over 20 national health ministries, to help connect people with accurate information.
