Facebook Messenger could ban mass forwarding of messages to tackle coronavirus hoaxes and rumours

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Facebook could stop people forwarding messages to too many people in an attempt to stop the spread of misinformation about coronavirus.

The company is testing a new feature for Messenger that only allows messages to be sent on to a maximum of five people, making it harder to spread hoaxes or rumours without thinking about them.

The feature is not yet available but Facebook confirmed it is being tested inside the company.

It comes after WhatsApp added a similar restriction to stop it being used to spread misinformation across groups.

Because chat apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are private, but allow users to easily send on information, they have become particularly prevalent sources of hoaxes and rumours.

The changes to Messenger were discovered by research Jane Manchung Wong, who tweeted an example found hidden inside the app, showing how it could work.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the feature was being tested out as a way of stopping misinformation, with a particular focus on the false stories and advice that have spread around the coronavirus outbreak.

"We're working hard to limit the spread of misinfo on our platforms, especially with #COVID19, and we’re exploring more options like testing stricter limits for how many chats you can fwd a message to at one time," wrote Alexandru Voica on Twitter. "This feature is still in development and not testing externally yet."

The confirmation of the new feature came as Facebook announced it would try to use Messenger to spread reliable and authoritative information about the coronavirus outbreak.

It said it would look to help government organisations by connecting them with developer partners who will allow them to use the platform as effectively as possible. Developers would aim to allow organisations such as the UN's health agencies to share information more quickly, and to be able to speed up replies to commonly asked questions using tools such as automated responses.

Facebook also said it would run an online hackathon with the aim of encouraging developers to "build messaging solutions that address issues related to the coronavirus such as social distancing and access to accurate information". Participants would get special acess to Messenger tools and educational materials, Facebook said, and the winners will get mentors from the company to help them build their ideas.