WhatsApp introduces Channels in India and over 150 countries

WhatsApp Channels: In a strategic move to boost user engagement across its suite of social media applications, Meta-owned WhatsApp, on Wednesday, has officially rolled out its new broadcast feature, "Channels", in India and more than 150 countries. 

Drawing parallels with Instagram's broadcast channel feature, the latest addition to WhatsApp features one-way communication channels, enabling users to efficiently send messages to large groups of recipients.

Key features of WhatsApp Channels

Channels function independently from regular chats, ensuring that the identities of followers remain confidential to others within the channel, WhatsApp said in a blog post. The one-way broadcasting tool will allow administrators to share text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls while safeguarding the privacy of both administrators and followers.

The global rollout of WhatsApp Channels will occur gradually over the coming weeks and months, making this feature accessible to any user with a WhatsApp account.

How can users create your Whatsapp Channel

• Open the WhatsApp application on their mobile device
• Navigate to the "Updates" tab
• Tap the "+" (plus) button and select "New channel"
• Accept the updates to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
• Add a name, description, and icon to customise the channel
• Tap "Create channel" to complete the setup

WhatsApp has also introduced a dedicated tab called "Updates" for Channels, where users can access status updates and the channels they follow, keeping these separate from their personal conversations, the blog post added. 

Whatsapp enhancements

Furthermore, WhatsApp is actively working on enhancing the functionality and user experience of Channels with the following updates:

• Users can discover channels through a searchable directory filtered by country and activity level.
• Similar to Instagram, users can react to updates with emojis, with the total number of reactions displayed.
• Admins can edit their updates within a 30-day window before they are automatically deleted from WhatsApp's servers.
• Updates forwarded by admins will include a link back to the channel.
• WhatsApp retains channel history on its servers for a maximum of 30 days to prevent message accumulation.

Administrators will also have control over who can follow their channel and whether it should be discoverable in the directory.

By default, channels are not end-to-end encrypted, as their primary goal is to reach a wider audience. However, WhatsApp is considering the possibility of implementing encrypted channels for specific limited audiences, such as non profit organisations or health institutions.

This addition to WhatsApp aligns with Meta's broader strategy to establish its social media apps as primary destinations for content creators to engage with their followers.With Channels, WhatsApp aims to offer a seamless and private way for individuals and organisations to connect and share updates with their audience.