Meta is preparing to launch a new measure to combat junk mail on WhatsApp.
The company will soon start to test a cap on how many unanswered messages users can send.
Meanwhile, the test counts every message sent to a contact who hasn't responded, however if someone replies, those messages are removed from the total.
WhatsApp will particularly show a notice when a person or business gets on the verge and explain how many messages remain for the month.
The company has not clarified an exact figure, but the change is aimed mainly at accounts that send large volumes of messages, not ordinary users. The trail will run across several countries over the next weeks.
WhatsApp now serves more than three billion people. The growth has also made it a target for unsolicited commercial messages. Many users receive promotional messages and unknown contact requests that cause a sudden rush of messages.
In 2024, WhatsApp started testing monthly limits on how many marketing messages a business could send.
The company previously had added an option to unsubscribe from promotional updates and this year it began expanding restrictions on broadcast lists which limits how many people can be contacted at one time.
Around 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts linked to scam centers have been banned in the first half of 2025.
The company's prime focus is to make spam harder to disseminate through larger contact lists or automated tools.
Meta is prioritizing user experience by making the platform easier to use for new contacts, setting a cap for unanswered messages, and aiming to balance between receptiveness and user control.
Additionally, the new rule, which is still in the testing phase, is designed to combat spam messages while keeping daily conversations unaffected.
