WhatsApp brings a new, different kind of feature called Channels to its users globally today, and it’s designed specifically for one-to-many broadcasts rather than a conversation. It’s “a private way to follow what matters” and a way for users to stay updated on their favorite news.
Table of Contents
What is WhatsApp’s Channels feature?
What is a Channel, exactly? If you’ve noticed Instagram broadcasts, it’s essentially the exact same thing, except you can now get all the updates you want straight from your go-to messaging app. This may remind you of Instagram’s feature called broadcast channels.
The one-way broadcasting service on WhatsApp lets admins send their followers photos, videos, texts, stickers, and polls. The feature offers a novel way for users to follow news, cultural figures, sports teams, celebrities, and more. It is now available in over 180 countries.
channels is now fully available in over 180 countries 🌍 make sure your app is up to date to start channeling your faves 📲
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) September 19, 2023
This means it’s also a creator’s tool. Many fan favorites are already on WhatsApp Channels, such as Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, singer Olivia Rodrigo, and rapper Bad Bunny. Just like them, creators can make their own channels and broadcast news and updates, or share exclusive photos and videos to fans.
How to access Channels
One benefit of Channels is it’s separation from users’ main chats. In order to access Channels, users have to search for them in WhatsApp under the “Updates” section, or by browsing in a newly created directory, and see their most recent updates in the Status section of the app.
In a video shared by Mark Zuckerberg to his own Channel that users can subscribe to, he states that privacy is of the utmost importance, which is why phone numbers and names will not be shared with anyone else in the channel when you react to messages.
Additionally, according to WhatsApp, channel admin information is not shared and the app only stores 30 days’ worth of a channel’s history. Admins can even block screenshots and forwards, making sure that what’s in the channel stays in the channel.
Top 10 most popular Channels
- WhatsApp: 14.2M followers
- Real Madrid C.F.: 10.3M followers
- FC Barcelona: 7.8M followers
- BAD BUNNY: 7.7M followers
- Katrina Kaif: 6.8M followers
- Man City: 5.7M followers
- Liverpool Football Club: 4.9M followers
- Indian Cricket Team: 4.1M followers
- Olivia Rodrigo: 4M followers
- WWE: 3.8M followers
Whether you choose to use Channels or not, WhatsApp is proving itself to be more than just a messaging app, and as it looks to grow, it’s trying to find ways to be much more than that. This is why since Channels are new, it’s going to see more updates in the future.
Stay updated on all of the latest news and interviews by subscribing to the ITP Live newsletter below and by clicking the push notifications.