News
WhatsApp Launches Channels: Discover, Follow, and Stay Informed
In an exciting development, WhatsApp has announced the launch of Channels, a new feature that offers users a simple, reliable, and private way to receive important updates from individuals and organizations. This feature aims to provide a separate space within WhatsApp for users to access updates, apart from their regular chats with family, friends, and communities.
What is WhatsApp Channels?
Channels serve as a unidirectional broadcasting feature, enabling administrators to seamlessly share a multitude of content types, including text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls, with their audience. To assist users in discovering relevant channels, WhatsApp is creating a searchable directory where they can find channels based on their interests, hobbies, sports teams, and local updates. Users will also have the flexibility to access channels through invite links shared in chats, email, or posted online.
Privacy lies at the core of WhatsApp’s design philosophy for Channels. The platform ensures the protection of personal information for both administrators and followers. As a channel admin, your phone number and profile photo will remain hidden from followers. Similarly, when you follow a channel, your phone number will remain undisclosed to both the channel administrator and other followers. WhatsApp emphasizes that the decision of whom to follow remains entirely private and up to the individual user.
Also read:
Use of Particular Channel
In line with their approach to messaging, WhatsApp believes that Channel updates should not have to be retained indefinitely. As a result, channel history will only be stored on servers for up to 30 days. Furthermore, WhatsApp intends to introduce features that allow updates to disappear even faster from followers’ devices. Additionally, admins will have the ability to block screenshots and forwards from their channels, further enhancing privacy controls.
WhatsApp recognizes the importance of giving admins control over their channels. Admins will be able to decide who can follow their channel and choose whether they want their channel to be discoverable in the directory or not. While Channels are not end-to-end encrypted by default, WhatsApp acknowledges that there may be specific cases, such as non-profit or health organizations, where limited-audience end-to-end encrypted channels could be useful. The company is exploring this as a potential future option.
Rolling out in Stages
The launch of Channels will commence with a collaboration with leading global voices and select organizations in Colombia and Singapore, where the feature will initially be available. WhatsApp plans to gather insights, learn from the experience, and make necessary adaptations before expanding Channels to more countries. The company also envisions supporting admins in building businesses around their channels by leveraging WhatsApp’s expanding payment services. Additionally, WhatsApp intends to provide the ability to promote certain channels in the directory to enhance visibility and awareness.
WhatsApp emphasizes that despite the introduction of Channels, the primary focus of the platform will always remain private messaging among friends, family, and communities. Channels mark a significant step forward in response to years of user demand. WhatsApp deems it an opportune moment to introduce a broadcast tool that is not only simple, reliable, and private but also anticipates users’ enjoyment and continued utilization in the months and years ahead.
For More Such Updates Follow Us On – Telegram, Twitter, Google News, WhatsApp and Facebook