WhatsApp testing a new folder for business messages

WhatsApp is testing a new folder for messages from large businesses. The feature was first spotted in the Meta Business Help Center and confirmed by a spokesperson.

WhatsApp will automatically move messages from large businesses to a new folder a few hours after you receive them. The company says it is still testing the feature and has not set a launch date.

This is not the first time WhatsApp has experimented with organizing messages. The company has previously tested a "calls" folder that sorts incoming phone calls from businesses. Now it is expanding that idea to text messages.

WhatsApp added a "calls" folder in early 2023. It automatically grouped calls from large businesses into a separate section. The company said it was a response to how people used the app. Many people wanted to separate business calls from personal ones.

The app has grown into a primary communication tool in many communities. For small business owners, WhatsApp is often the main way they reach customers. A family-run taquería might use it for orders. A local contractor might use it for scheduling. A cousin might use it to check in.

The new folder could make it harder for small businesses to reach customers directly. If messages get moved to a separate section, they might get lost. People who rely on WhatsApp for their side hustle could struggle to find messages.

WhatsApp has not said how the new folder will work. It is not clear if users can turn it off. It is not clear if it will apply to all business messages or only large ones. The company is still testing the feature.

Why this matters for us: When WhatsApp sorts business messages away, it puts the small businesses we rely on — the ones who text us for orders, schedules, and updates — in a folder we might not check. This could quietly change how we stay in touch with the people who serve our comunidad.