WhatsApp is mostly used for one-to-one communication between peers. It’s also used for group chats, but there is one other type of communication that the company has been leaving out. This is where Channels come in. According to The Verge, WhatsApp Channels are finally rolling out, but it’s still going to be a while.
We’ve been following rumors about WhatsApp Channels for a bit. We also discovered that there’s going to be a search feature for Channels. Now, the wait is ending, and you’ll be able to use this feature if you want to keep people informed about what’s going on.
WhatsApp Channels are rolling out, but what are they?
This is similar to something that Instagram rolled out not too long ago. Meta owns Instagram and WhatsApp. So, it shouldn’t surprise you that this feature made it across platforms.
Imagine a WhatsApp Channel as a huge public group chat where anyone can pop in and see new posted messages. However, in that group chat, only one person is allowed to post. It might seem a bit weird, but the thinking behind this is that people are able to post updates and messages for their fans and followers.
So, picture a celebrity, influencer, or public figure starting a Channel and keeping their fans updated about what’s going on. Music artists can keep people updated about upcoming albums and concerts, influencers can keep people informed about upcoming events, content creators can keep people updated about future videos, etc.
So, this is a neat feature to have if you want another avenue to keep people informed about what’s going on with you. Since this is WhatsApp, you’re able to also post videos, pictures, and links.
For now, WhatsApp Channels are still rolling out, so it’ll be some time before you’re able to create your own Channel. Right now, it’s rolling out to “leading Global organizations and select organizations in Columbia and Singapore.” As time goes on, it will expand to more users and more countries. You should expect to see it expand to your region in the coming months.