WhatsApp has announced the introduction of Channels which they have termed as a simple and reliable way to receive important updates from people and organizations.
Channels are essentially a one-way broadcast tool for admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls and will be similar to what is already being offered by Telegram.
Channels will be found in a new tab called Updates where you will be able to find the Status and channels you choose to follow. This will be separate from your chats with family, friends, and communities.
To help you select channels to follow, WhatsApp is building a searchable directory where you will be able 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.
In a bid to protect the personal information of both admins and followers, the phone number and profile photo of the admin won’t be shown to followers. Likewise, following a channel won’t reveal your phone number to the admin or other followers.
Admins will be able to decide who can follow their channel and whether they want their channel to be discoverable in the directory or not. As well as an option to block screenshots and forwards from their channel.
Channel history will only be on the WhatsApp servers for a maximum of 30 days after which they will disappear, most probably as a means to reduce clutter.
WhatsApp has indicated that they will support admins with a way for them to build a business around their channel using their expanding payment services as well as the ability to
promote certain channels in the directory to help increase awareness.
Initially Channels will be available in select organizations in Colombia and Singapore, apparently, to help them build, learn, and adapt the experience. The feature will be made available in more countries over the coming months.