Billions of WhatsApp users receive three new buttons that make finding messages so much easier
WHATSAPP has finally removed the need to scroll endlessly through chats to find old but important messages.
The Meta-owned messenger has added a new feature to make finding the messages we need easier – and less time consuming.
The app wants users to be able to open WhatsApp and land directly on the conversation they want in that moment.
So it has brought in Chat Filters to make that happen.
Chat Filters, introduced yesterday, divides users’ inbox into three separate sections: All, Unread and Groups.
It’s similar to the filters you might find in your email inbox.
The three filters will appear at the top of your chat list, and can be selected with just a tap.
WhatsApp has offered a breakdown of what they all mean:
- All: The default view of all your messages.
- Unread: Perfect for when you want to see which conversations you need to catch up on or respond to.
- It shows messages that are either marked by you as unread or haven’t been opened yet, so you can prioritize your responses.
- Groups: A highly requested feature, now all your group chats will be organised in one place, making it easier to find your favorite ones whether it’s your weekly family dinner discussion or planning your next vacation.
- This will also show subgroups of Communities.
The filters will also be a good way to help people divide and organise their inbox.
It appears there are more filters to come, with All, Unread and Groups simply being the first trio.
WhatsApp said it will “continue to build more options to help you focus on what matters most”.
It’s unclear what these options will be.
As Meta often pulls inspiration from its other social media apps – Facebook and Instagram – we could see an integration of Meta’s ‘Close Friends’ filter.
The new feature began rolling out to WhatsApp users globally on 16 April.
It comes alongside a date-finder feature unveiled earlier this month, which further signals WhatsApp’s commitment to slashing scroll times when finding the messages that matter most.
If you have yet to see the filters in your app, make sure your WhatsApp has installed the latest update and be patient.
It will be available to all users in the coming weeks.
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