WhatsApp, one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, has announced the global launch of WhatsApp Channels, introducing a private way for users to receive updates from a wide range of organisations, sports teams, artists, and thought leaders.
WhatsApp global channels: Here’s everything you must expect
This expansion, now available in over 150 countries, aims to provide users with a unique and private broadcasting service.
WhatsApp Channels offer a separate space from your regular chats, allowing users to follow entities of their choice discreetly.
The list of channels you follow is not visible to other followers, emphasising privacy for both administrators and followers.
This move comes after WhatsApp received positive feedback during its initial pilot phase in 10 countries.
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With the global expansion, several new features and improvements have been introduced to enhance the user experience:
Enhanced Director
WhatsApp now offers an improved directory that automatically filters channels based on your country. Users can also explore new, active, and popular channels, ranked by the number of followers.
Reactions
Users can express their reactions to channel updates using emojis. These reactions are private and not visible to other followers. This feature enables users to provide feedback and gauge the response to content without revealing their reactions to the public.
Editing
In the near future, administrators will have the ability to edit their updates for up to 30 days. After this period, WhatsApp will automatically delete the updates from its servers. This feature allows administrators to keep their content up-to-date and relevant.
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Forwarding
When users forward an update to chats or groups, WhatsApp will include a link back to the original channel. This feature simplifies the process of sharing content and enables recipients to easily access the source channel for more information.
WhatsApp emphasised that this is just the beginning, and they plan to add more features and expand the capabilities of WhatsApp Channels based on user feedback.
In the coming months, WhatsApp intends to make it possible for anyone to create their own channel, opening up new opportunities for content creators and organisations to connect with their audiences.
