WhatsApp, a messaging platform owned by Meta, has officially launched the WhatsApp Channels feature in India and 150 other countries. This feature serves as a one-way broadcast tool, enabling users to receive updates from individuals and organizations within WhatsApp. WhatsApp initially introduced Channels in June, launching it first in Colombia and Singapore in collaboration with select organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the World Health Organization (WHO), FC Barcelona, and Manchester City.
“We’re welcoming thousands of organizations, sports teams, artists, and thought leaders that people can follow right within WhatsApp,” the company said. Users can join Channels through invite links shared in chats, emails, or online platforms, it added. Channels are separate from chats and followers are not visible to others. Moreover, the personal information of admins and followers is protected.
“Our aim is to create the most private broadcast service by safeguarding 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,” WhatsApp said.
Users can join Channels through invite links shared in chats, emails, or online platforms. Channels are distinct from regular conversations, and followers remain invisible to others. WhatsApp prioritizes user privacy by safeguarding the personal information of both channel admins and followers. Admins’ phone numbers and profile photos are not displayed to followers, and following a channel does not reveal the user’s phone number.
WhatsApp has made several updates to the feature based on early user feedback, including an Enhanced Directory for users to discover Channels filtered by country. Users can also view new, active, and popular Channels based on follower count. Additionally, users can express their reactions using emojis, and admins can modify Channel updates for up to 30 days before automatic deletion.
“This is just the beginning, and we’ll continue to add more features and expand Channels based on feedback we get from users. Over the coming months, we’ll also make it possible for anyone to create a Channel,” it added.
Celebrities, sports teams, artists, and thought leaders from India and around the world, including the Indian cricket team, Katrina Kaif, Diljit Dosanjh, Akshay Kumar, Vijay Deverakonda, and Neha Kakkar, have launched their Channels on WhatsApp. The official WhatsApp Channel will also be used for product updates.
