WhatsApp will let users filter channels by country

When introducing Channels, WhatsApp will allow users to filter by country. This is evident from a test version of the app. Until now it was not possible to filter by country. Channels currently operate in nine countries and will be coming to many more countries later.

WhatsApp country filter for Channels

By filtering by country, users can see which channels are popular and widely used in their country, reports WABetaInfo. The function of Channels is to distribute information, for example among members of an association. It differs from Communities in several important aspects. It is not end-to-end encrypted, no one can see participants’ phone numbers and there is no limit on the number of people following a Channel.

They also have a different place in the app. They will not be listed under chats, but under Updates, a new tab in the app. The WABetaInfo screenshots include channels from WhatsApp itself, but also from the football clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Meta has said that Channels will be available in more countries. For the time being, this concerns Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Ukraine, Peru and Singapore.