WhatsApp has introduce a new feature call as Channels that might prove to be useful, especially for business owners and content creators who frequently market their businesses through the platform.
A new tab call as updates will be made available for users and in this tab, users will be able to see updates from the Channels that they choose to follow.
This Update tab will show you content that is different from chats with your families, friends and communities.
WhatsApp announce in a blog post :
“Today we’re excited to introduce Channels: a simple, reliable, and private way to receive important updates from people and organizations, right within WhatsApp. We’re building Channels in a new tab called Updates – where you’ll find Status and channels you choose to follow – separate from your chats with family, friends, and communities,”.
Meta describe Channels as a ‘one-way broadcast tool for admins‘ through which they can send content in any form- be it text, photos, videos, and even stickers and polls.
WhatsApp is building a separate directory in which users will be able to look up for Channels as per their preferences.
They can find Channels catering to their hobbies, favourite sports teams, updates from local officials, and more.
But searching through the directory is not the only way to sign up for a channel.
You can also get to a channel from invite links sent in chats, e-mail, or posted online.
WhatsApp didn’t forget about the users’ privacy concerns.
After all, people could be concern about their phone number being access by strangers who subscribe to the same channel.
Addressing the privacy concerns that users might have, WhatsApp says that they are aspiring to build the most ‘private broadcast service‘ available today.
WhatsApp introduces Channels: what is it, how it works
— 2YoDoINDIA News Network (@2yodoindia) June 8, 2023
For more details visit : https://t.co/9rguZc51gI
For more news visit : https://t.co/98KV4yIruC#2YoDoINDIA #WhatsApp #Meta #WhatsAppChannels pic.twitter.com/78aXIbjpwk
WhatsApp said in a blog post :
“This starts by protecting the personal information of both admins and followers. 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.”
“Similar to how we build messaging, we don’t believe Channel updates should have to stick around forever. So we’ll only store channel history on our servers for up to 30 days and we’ll 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.”
Also, WhatsApp added that admins will be able to decide who follows their channel and who does not.
They will also have control over whether they want their channel to be discoverable in the directory or not.
As there is no end-to-end encryption for channels by default since ‘the aim of Channels is to reach a wide audience‘.
WhatsApp said :
“We do think there are some cases where end-to-end encrypted channels to a limited audience might make sense, such as a non profit or health organization, and we’re exploring this as a future option as well,” the company notes.
The Channels feature will first be available in Colombia and Singapore and over the coming months, the feature will be roll out in more countries.
As admins will be able to use the feature to send broadcast messages.
They will also have control over their audience.
As for users, they can simply look up for their favourite channel through a directory and can follow it to get regular updates.
You can also get invite to a channel via an invite link that can be sent through chats, e-mail, or posted online.
