WhatsApp introduces Channels: a new way to follow what matters to you
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta, has announced a new feature called Channels: a simple and private way to receive updates from people and organizations important to you, right within WhatsApp.
With Channels, admins can send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls to their followers in a one-way broadcast mode. Similar to Stories in Instagram, or Spotlight on Snapchat, followers will be able to subscribe and view the latest from their Channels in a new tab called Updates, where they can also find Status and channels they choose to follow. They can also interact with the updates by liking, commenting, or sharing them.
Hot on the heels of their treble-winning season, Manchester City will be one of the launch partners for Channels, along with FC Barcelona and the WHO.
A searchable directory will be built by WhatsApp to help users select channels to follow. They can find their hobbies, sports teams, updates from local officials, and more. They can also get to a channel from invite links sent in chats, e-mail, or posted online.
Privacy is a key aspect of Channels, according to WhatsApp. As a channel admin, your phone number and profile photo won’t be shown to followers. Likewise, following a channel won’t reveal your phone number to the admin or other followers. Who you decide to follow is your choice and it’s private. The app also says it will only store channel history on its servers for up to 30 days and it will add ways to make updates disappear even faster from follower’s devices. Admins will also have the option to block screenshots and forwards from their channel.
Irish users will have to wait a little longer to get their hands of the new Channels feature as it is launching in Colombia and Singapore first, where WhatsApp will work with leading global voices and select organizations to build, learn, and adapt the experience. It will bring Channels to more countries and the ability for anyone to create a channel over the coming months.
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