Introducing WhatsApp’s New Feature: Broadcasting ‘Channels’
On Thursday, WhatsApp introduced a new feature called “Channels” to a few chosen organizations, allowing them to send broadcasts to their followers on the widely-used messaging platform owned by Meta.
The debut comes as a host of agencies and organizations grow disillusioned with Elon Musk-owned Twitter over fees, performance issues and dramatically reduced content moderation.
Meta described Channels as “a simple, reliable and private way to get important updates from people and organizations right on WhatsApp.”
A video shared by Meta showed that Channels can keep people up to date with race results, soccer match results, weather and traffic, and even share cooking or home improvement tips.
“We think the time is finally right to introduce a simple, reliable and private broadcasting tool,” Meta said in a post.
Meta said WhatsApp’s priority will continue to be private messaging, but users have been asking for a channel-like feature for years.
WhatsApp is known for its encryption that protects against snooping.
According to the platform, more than two billion people around the world use WhatsApp.
Meta said it is investigating the possibility of making encrypted channels available to groups such as non-profit organizations or health organizations where this data security may be necessary.
Channels were described as a one-way posting tool that allows account admins to post text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls.
According to Meta, global publication partners include the International Rescue Committee and the World Health Organization, as well as the soccer clubs of FC Barcelona and Manchester City.
The Silicon Valley tech titan said it plans to gradually expand channel availability over the coming months.
