whatsapp developers announced A new feature for the messenger called “Channels”. This is a new way to spread information similar to Telegram channels that appeared in 2015.
“Today we are launching Channels, a simple, secure and private way to follow important news from individuals and organizations without leaving WhatsApp. Channels you subscribe to will appear separately from chats and communities in the new “Related” tab, where we will also move the status,” the developers said in a message.
It was noted that channel managers can post messages, photos, videos, stickers and surveys on these channels, while subscribers can only view them without the possibility of comments and reactions. It is possible that these features will be added in future updates.
You can subscribe to a channel by searching the catalog or using a special catalog of channels, which will be categorized directly through an invitation sent in WhatsApp chat, email or posted on the network.
It is also stated that the phone number and profile photo of the manager will not be visible to the subscribers, and the phone numbers of the users will be hidden from all subscribers of the channel, including the managers. Also, the list of channels to which the user is subscribed will be hidden from strangers.
Another way to ensure protection within channels is to be able to delete posts after a certain period of time, just like messages in chats. The developers will keep the channel’s broadcast history on the company’s servers for a maximum of 30 days. It is stated that the function of deleting information from the subscribers’ devices will also be added. At the same time, administrators will be able to prevent subscribers from taking screenshots and forwarding content from the channel.
It is also reported that administrators can restrict users who can subscribe to their channels and hide channels from catalog search results.
The post reads, “Since channels are intended for a general audience, they are not end-to-end encrypted by default.” It is possible that in the future encryption will be available for channels with a limited audience, such as nonprofit channels or health authorities.
The innovation is being tested in Colombia and Singapore. In the coming months, the feature will be rolled out in other countries, after which each WhatsApp user will be able to create their own channel.
Formerly socialbites.ca saidWhatsApp beta versions have a feature that lets you choose the quality of the image before sending it.