Instant messaging app WhatsApp has announced that it is testing a limit on forwarding messages to five chats at a time in India. It also said that it will remove the quick forward button.

This move comes in the wake of violent incidents triggered by the spread of fake news on the platform.

"We built WhatsApp as a private messaging app – a simple, secure, and reliable way to communicate with friends and family. And as we've added new features, we've been careful to try and keep that feeling of intimacy, which people say they love" said authorities from WhatsApp.

"We are launching a test to limit forwarding that will apply to everyone using WhatsApp. In India, where people forward more messages, photos, and videos than any other country in the world, we will also test a lower limit of five chats at once and remove the quick forward button next to media messages" authorities added.

It may be mentioned here that WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted.