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In my experience, it has. I use both iMessages and Whatsapp in India. I have never dealt with fake news and all the low signal forwarded memes and garbage on iM

In my experience, it has. I use both iMessages and Whatsapp in India. I have never dealt with fake news and all the low signal forwarded memes and garbage on iMessages. Whatsapp, on the other hand, is filled with it. The only solace in whatsapp is that I can disable auto media downloading to escape it to some extent.

harpratap 6y ago
This has more to do with people who use whatsapp vs people who use iMessage. If all the people who use whastapp migrated to iMessage, the same problem will happen there.
- 0xCMP 6y ago
  It might, but part of why it happens is that the app makes it easy for that to happen and users are trained. Think how "redditors" talk vs how we do here in HN. We have clear rules about what this forum is about. Commenting "lol" -> "loll" -> "lolll" is not accepted. You'll be warned, marked "dead", or outright banned. Moderation in a messaging app only happens at scale via UX.
  - harpratap 6y ago
    Curious as to what you think is the difference in UX of iMessage that doesn't encourage people to spread random messages to others? AFAICT iMessage allows people to freely forward messages to multiple contacts at no cost just like Whatsapp - https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/02/iphone-how-to-forward-imessages-or-sms/ https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/02/iphone-how-to-forward-imessag...
    - ComputerGuru 6y ago
      One long press on WhatsApp to forward (on the same menu as copy, reply, and delete) as compared to a long pressed followed by “more...” to find forward on iPhone (and it was only “recently” added).
      - quantummkv 6y ago
        Indeed. Even little frictions like these can go a long way to curb such spamming behavior. As evidenced on HN itself.
        harpratap 6y ago
        The propaganda spread on Whatsapp is happening because of external issues. There are groups of people paid or motivated to spread it on that platform. Such a minor thing wouldn't make any difference in reduction of propaganda spread to people dedicated enough to spread it.
        ComputerGuru 6y ago
        > Such a minor thing wouldn't make any difference in reduction of propaganda spread to people dedicated enough to spread it. You may have missed the part where I said it wasn’t even available at all until a recent-ish update. Don’t forget that propaganda is created by dedicated people but it’s viral spread is via innocent, gullible victims. That’s where the inertia in forwarding comes in to play.

harpratap 6y ago

This has more to do with people who use whatsapp vs people who use iMessage. If all the people who use whastapp migrated to iMessage, the same problem will happen there.

0xCMP 6y ago
It might, but part of why it happens is that the app makes it easy for that to happen and users are trained. Think how "redditors" talk vs how we do here in HN. We have clear rules about what this forum is about. Commenting "lol" -> "loll" -> "lolll" is not accepted. You'll be warned, marked "dead", or outright banned. Moderation in a messaging app only happens at scale via UX.
- harpratap 6y ago
  Curious as to what you think is the difference in UX of iMessage that doesn't encourage people to spread random messages to others? AFAICT iMessage allows people to freely forward messages to multiple contacts at no cost just like Whatsapp - https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/02/iphone-how-to-forward-imessages-or-sms/ https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/02/iphone-how-to-forward-imessag...
  - ComputerGuru 6y ago
    One long press on WhatsApp to forward (on the same menu as copy, reply, and delete) as compared to a long pressed followed by “more...” to find forward on iPhone (and it was only “recently” added).
    - quantummkv 6y ago
      Indeed. Even little frictions like these can go a long way to curb such spamming behavior. As evidenced on HN itself.
      - harpratap 6y ago
        The propaganda spread on Whatsapp is happening because of external issues. There are groups of people paid or motivated to spread it on that platform. Such a minor thing wouldn't make any difference in reduction of propaganda spread to people dedicated enough to spread it.
        ComputerGuru 6y ago
        > Such a minor thing wouldn't make any difference in reduction of propaganda spread to people dedicated enough to spread it. You may have missed the part where I said it wasn’t even available at all until a recent-ish update. Don’t forget that propaganda is created by dedicated people but it’s viral spread is via innocent, gullible victims. That’s where the inertia in forwarding comes in to play.