WhatsApp imposes even stricter limits on message forwarding

It’s to slow the spread of misinformation.

If you receive a frequently forwarded message — one that’s been forwarded more than five times and identifiable with a double arrow icon — you’ll only be able to forward them on to one chat at a time. It’s a defense against misinformation: The company says it’s seen a “significant increase” in the number of forwarded messages on the platform, and while many of them are relatively innocent — memes and prayers, for example — this practice is contributing to the spread of misinformation.  

It’s not the first time WhatsApp has imposed such measures. After both it and its parent company, Facebook, were accused of playing a pivotal role in the spread of misinformation during violence in India in 2018, WhatsApp reduced the number of times a message could be forwarded from 20 to five. This time it’s a global effort, however.
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Netflix’s new parental controls include PIN-protected profiles

And you can turn off auto-play for kids’ profiles.

Netflix has had separate user profiles, including ones that stick to kids’ content, for a while, but some new changes could make parents more comfortable. Adults can use a PIN to secure their own profiles so kids can’t open the app and watch whatever they want. Adults can also remove series or films by title, select between different age filters for a kid’s profile and see the history of what children have been watching.
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Google releases Chrome 81 with ‘app badging’ for subtle notifications

The next version will be Chrome 83, update your notes accordingly.

Keeping up to date with Google’s reworked schedule, the latest version of Chrome is going out to everyone. It has new tweaks for WebXR and some NFC support, plus widely available support for app badges. That lets web apps update their icons to let you know there’s something new, like a waiting email or a message in Slack, without popping up an intrusive notification.
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The best Xbox games

Given the 2020 refresh.

Today, we walk through the best games to get for your Xbox One — there’s still time before the next-gen consoles get here, you know. And if you want something that doesn’t center around guns or blades, we recommend the newest addition to the list: Ori and the Blind Forest.
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The best board games with an app-based twist

Ten Engadget favorites that blend digital and analog play.

Conversely, how about some games involving less screen time. The caveat, here, is that not all of these are lockdown appropriate, but if you’re living with family or several roommates, we have a few ideas to distract from Monopoly or another Netflix binge.
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But wait, there’s more…

Samsung’s older smart TVs are losing remote control app support

The Big Picture: See every square foot of asteroid Bennu, Earth’s little frenemy

Vizio SmartCast TVs add 30 new free TV channels

Nuro’s driverless delivery cars are cleared for testing in California

As cinephiles shelter, studios are catching on to virtual movie nights

What’s on TV this week: ‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’

Award-winning RPG ‘Disco Elysium’ is coming to Nintendo Switch