  This research studies the nature and spread of WhatsApp content among
everyday users in a rural Indian village. Leveraging a dataset of hundreds of
private WhatsApp groups collected with consent from participants, our study
uncovers the kinds of WhatsApp groups users are part of, marking the first such
categorization. The dataset comprises tens of thousands of messages, out of
which we manually classified 604 pieces of content designated as 'forwarded
many times'-indicating their viral status.
  Our key findings indicate a high prevalence of content focused on national
politics, with the viral messages overwhelmingly supporting a specific
political party and disparaging the opposition. Significantly, these messages
were fraught with misinformation, engendering hate against Muslims and
promoting a narrative of Hindus being under threat. This trend was particularly
noticeable within caste-based groups, which were dominated by misinformation,
pro-BJP rhetoric, anti-Congress content, and Hindutva propaganda. Remarkably,
much of the misinformation circulating had previously been discredited by
established fact-checking organizations. This suggests not only a recurring
cycle of debunked information reappearing but also that fact-checks are failing
to penetrate these specific groups.
  As the first quantitative analysis of everyday WhatsApp use in a rural
context, this research has far-reaching implications for understanding the
unique challenges posed by end-to-end encrypted platforms. It serves as a
crucial baseline for designing more effective moderation policies aimed at
combating misinformation and fostering a more responsible use of encrypted
communication channels.
