WhatsApp trials monthly cap on unreplied messages to curb spam

WhatsApp is testing a new anti-spam measure that limits the number of messages an account can send without receiving a reply. The trial, reported by tech outlets, aims to target high-volume senders and spammers while leaving typical users unaffected.

Key points about the test:

• All messages — from individuals and businesses — count toward the cap, including multiple unread messages to the same recipient.
• If a recipient replies, those messages are removed from the monthly tally.
• Accounts nearing the limit will see a warning; the company is testing different thresholds to only affect heavy senders.
• The roll-out will expand to multiple countries over the coming weeks.

WhatsApp says average users are unlikely to reach the cap. The change is the latest in a series of steps by Meta to reduce spam and scams on the platform. Recent moves include allowing users to unsubscribe from business marketing messages and notifying people when someone not in their contacts adds them to a group. WhatsApp also reported banning over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers in the first half of 2025.

More details were originally reported by Engadget; you can read the article here.

The cap is designed to discourage persistent unsolicited messaging without disrupting normal conversations. By removing replied messages from the tally, WhatsApp balances anti-spam enforcement with legitimate follow-up messaging. It’ll be important to watch how thresholds are set and whether businesses that rely on outbound messaging are affected.

Discussion: Do you think a monthly unreplied-message cap will meaningfully reduce spam on WhatsApp, or will spammers find ways around it?