WhatsApp launches a messaging feature called Channelsa one-way communication mode by which we can follow channels of any subject in the app and privately, all from the new tab News.
This platform is a tool for administrators to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and surveys. To help curate the channels that users choose, they are creating a searchable directory where they can find hobbies, sports teams, news from local officials and much more. A channel will also be accessible from invite links sent via chat or email or posted online.
Objectives of the channels function
The mission is to develop the most private streaming service available. Therefore, the personal information of both administrators and followers is protected. Thus, the phone number and profile photo of the channel administrator will not be shown to followers. Similarly, the phone number of channel followers will also not be shown to the admin or other followers.
In a similar way to how they develop the messaging system, in WhatsApp they do not believe that the news of the channels have to be always available. Thus, they will only store the channel history on their servers for a maximum of 30 days. Even from the company they have affirmed that they will add ways to make the news disappear even faster on the devices of the followers. Admins will also have the option to block the options for taking screenshots and forwarding content from the channel.
Continuing with privacy, admins will have the option to decide who can follow their channel and if they want their channel to be visible in the directory or not. Since channels are intended to reach a broad audience, they are not end-to-end encrypted by default.
The channels will launch first in Colombia and Singapore, where channels will be available to create, learn, and adapt the experience. In the coming months, they will make channels available in more countries and allow anyone to create a channel.
Naturally, the main use of WhatsApp among people will continue to be sending private messages between friends, family and communities, and that will always be your first priority. Creating channels represents a big step that your users have been asking for for years. They believe that the time has finally come to integrate a simple, reliable and private streaming tool.