Whatsapp is rolling out Channels – a one-way broadcast feature that allows users to send text, photos, videos, stickers and polls to their audiences.
They said that Channels will be available 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.
To help you select channels to follow, we’re building a searchable directory where you can find your hobbies, sports teams, updates from local officials, and more. You can also get to a channel from invite links sent in chats, e-mail, or posted online.
Whatsapp
Privacy-focused
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.
Whatsapp
Channel updates are also saved in servers for up to 30 days before they are deleted and admins will also have the option to block screenshots and forwards from their channel.
Admins will also have the power to decide who can follow their channel and whether they want their channel to be discoverable in the directory or not.
Given the aim of Channels is to reach a wide audience, channels are not end-to-end encrypted by default. 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.
Whatsapp
To kick off Channels, Whatsapp says that they’re working with leading global voices and select organizations in Colombia and Singapore to build, learn, and adapt the experience.
They mentioned that they will bring Channels to more countries and the ability for anyone to create a channel over the coming months.
We also believe there is an opportunity to support admins with a way for them to build a business around their channel using our expanding payment services as well as the ability to promote certain channels in the directory to help increase awareness.
Whatsapp
