WHATSAPP is rolling out a major update worldwide which will make the messaging service look more like its social media siblings, Facebook and Instagram.
The Meta-owned app is introducing a feature called Channels, which users can click on to see updates from organisations and people with a wider message to share.
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In a statement on Facebook this morning, Mark Zuckerberg wrote: “Today we’re announcing WhatsApp Channels — a private way to follow people and organizations that matter to you, right within WhatsApp.
“We are starting in Singapore and Colombia, but will roll out to everyone later this year.”
It’ll be a “one-way broadcast tool” for businesses and people to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls to friends or even customers, according to WhatsApp.
The company calls it “a private way to follow what matters,” and suggests users can follow local and sports updates through the new feature.
At face value, it appears to resemble Stories which have made headway on Facebook and Instagram.
Stories allow influencers and businesses to better engage with followers through the likes of videos, polls and quizzes.
Onlookers have likened the feature to major rival Twitter but without the replies, or something like BBM channels from the Blackberry phone’s glory days.
The new feature is set to appear on a new Updates tab, which is separate from your usual chats with family and friends.
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Meta has so far only introduced the feature to WhatsApp users in Colombia and Singapore.
But it plans to roll out the feature to other countries in the coming months.
WhatsApp says Channels will maintain the levels of privacy that WhatsApp is known for, such as not allowing admins to add followers to their own Channel.
Channel history will also only be available for 30 days before it disappear automatically – forever.
Admins can even block screenshots and forwards, making the Channel totally private to who’s inside.
However, Channels aren’t end-to-end encrypted like the rest of WhatsApp.
But the company has said it’s considering ways to encrypt some channels over time.
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