What you need to know about WhatsApp’s latest update
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called Channels, here is everything you need to know about it and how it works.
In Short
- WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called Channel.
- Channels can prove to be extremely useful for content creators and business owners.
WhatsApp has introduced a brand-new feature called Channels that might prove to be super useful, especially for business owners and content creators who frequently market their businesses through the platform. A new tab called 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. Here is all you need to know about WhatsApp’s brand-new feature and how to use it.
WhatsApp introduces Channels
“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,” WhatsApp announced in a blog post.
The company further described 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. Further, 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, favorite sports teams, updates from local officials, and more.
But searching through the directory is not the only way to sign up for a channel. Users can also get to a channel from invite links sent in chats, e-mails, or posted online.
Addressing privacy concerns
With this new feature, WhatsApp didn’t forget about the users’ privacy concerns. After all, people could be concerned about their phone numbers being accessed 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. The company added, “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, the company 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.
However, as of now, there is no end-to-end encryption for channels by default since ‘the aim of Channels is to reach a wide audience’.
“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.
Availability and how to use
The Channels feature will first be available in Colombia and Singapore and over the coming months, the feature will be rolled out in more countries. As already mentioned above, 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 their favorite channel through a directory and can follow it to get regular updates. Users can also get invited to a channel via an invite link that can be sent through chats, e-mail, or posted online.
