WhatsApp has announced today that it is extending its Channels feature designed for broadcasted messages. The company has confirmed that Channels will become accessible to users in over 150 countries within the next few weeks.
Mark Zuckerberg unveiled this feature’s global expansion on his newly established WhatsApp channel.
With its worldwide release, WhatsApp is introducing an enhanced directory that enables users to discover channels based on their geographical location. This directory can be sorted by criteria such as “new,” “most active,” and “most popular.” When users forward an update from a channel to a group or an individual, it will automatically include a link back to the original channel.
For administrators, WhatsApp is introducing the capability to edit a message for a duration of up to 30 days. Additionally, users can edit messages sent to individuals or groups within a 15-minute timeframe.
It’s worth noting that Meta is currently limiting the ability to create a channel to select individuals and organizations. However, the company has plans to eventually allow everyone to create their own channels.
With the global launch, WhatsApp has welcomed notable additions to its channels, including Olivia Rodrigo, David Guetta, Billboard, MLB, and, naturally, Mark Zuckerberg himself. While WhatsApp hasn’t disclosed the exact number of available channels, it has confirmed the existence of “thousands” of them. WhatsApp also maintains its own official channel to communicate about the app’s features and updates.
In June, Meta introduced the Channels feature on Instagram on a global scale, with the goal of connecting creators with their fans through a one-to-many communication channel.
Over the past year, WhatsApp has been experimenting with features tailored to various group sizes. In November of the previous year, the company launched Communities, facilitating multigroup communication for entities like schools, residential complexes, or clubs. Last month, WhatsApp introduced a feature that allows the creation of groups without the need to assign them a name, with a maximum group size of six people.
I’m delighted to unveil WhatsApp Channels, a fresh and private platform tailored for receiving updates from individuals and organizations you’re interested in. I’m launching this channel to share Meta-related news and updates, he shared.
Back in June, Meta initially introduced Channels on WhatsApp, starting with users in Colombia and Singapore. In July, it expanded this functionality to seven additional countries.
Channels will be housed in a dedicated tab within the app, ensuring that the channels you follow remain private to others. Moreover, sensitive information like your phone number will remain concealed from admins and followers.
Although the core function of a channel still revolves around one-to-many communication through broadcasted messages, the company is introducing new interactive features, including the ability to react with emojis. Users will also have the ability to view the total reaction count beneath each message.
