How does WhatsApp combat spam and unsolicited messages using phone numbers?

[muskanhossain]

WhatsApp employs a multifaceted approach to combat spam and unsolicited messages, and phone numbers play a crucial role in several of these strategies. Here's how WhatsApp uses phone numbers to fight this issue:

1. Registration Verification:

Phone Number Requirement: Every WhatsApp account is tied to a unique phone number. This mandatory requirement acts as a first line of defense against mass, anonymous spam accounts that are easier to create without a real-world identifier.
Verification Process: The phone number verification process, involving sending a unique code via SMS or call, ensures that the user has control over the provided number. This makes it slightly more difficult for spammers to create large numbers of fake accounts.
2. Contact-Based Trust:

Mutual Saving Requirement for Broadcast Lists: A key feature to denmark whatsapp number data prevent spam is that users will only receive broadcast messages if they have the sender's phone number saved in their contacts. This discourages unsolicited mass messaging to unknown recipients.
"Silence Unknown Callers" Feature: WhatsApp allows users to silence calls from numbers not saved in their contacts. This helps filter out potential spam calls from unknown sources, which often rely on automated dialing.

3. User Reporting and Blocking:

Reporting Mechanisms: WhatsApp makes it easy for users to report spam or unwanted messages. When a user reports a contact, WhatsApp receives information about the sender's account, including their phone number, and the content of the reported messages (though end-to-end encryption limits WhatsApp's ability to see message content).

Blocking Feature: Users can block specific phone numbers from contacting them. Once blocked, that number cannot send messages or call the user. This puts control directly in the hands of the user to manage unwanted communication.