WhatsApp It has been following in the footsteps of other competing platforms for quite some time, but sometimes the degree of “inspiration” it takes from the Telegram application reaches shameless degrees. The perfect example of this is the new channel function.
Since Meta acquired WhatsApp, we have seen this recurring pattern of behavior where, rather than developing their own functions for future updates, they follow those of other much more secure but less popular platforms, such as Signal or Telegram.
For example, we recently saw how they finally integrated the function to edit messages already sent. Something that has existed in other instant messaging apps for a long time.
And now, finally, we see how more or less the same movement is repeated, where WhatsApp finally integrates a function to create broadcast channels. Where its use is quite clear and does not have further explanations, thanks to the years of experience of the community itself that has used them on other platforms.
This is how the new WhatsApp channels work
On June 8, 2023, the whatsapp official blog finally published all the details about the release of the new channels feature.
Broadly speaking, the company presents the channels as a simple, reliable and private way to receive news related to people and/or organizations of our interest, without the need for interaction in both directions:
“Channels are a one-way broadcast tool for admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls.
To help you select which channels to follow, we’re creating a searchable directory where you can find your hobbies, sports teams, news from local officials and much more.
You can also join a channel from invite links sent via chat or email or posted online.”
The channels are in their natural process of being fully integrated and deployed in the interface of the messaging application.
But for now, after downloading the most recent version of the platform, we will find a new tab called “News”, where we will find both the states and the channels that we decide to follow.
It will be interesting to see if the WhatsApp user community ends up accepting this peculiar feature that has been around for quite some time on Telegram.
So much so that the application even decided to make fun of this “new” from Meta with a meme through its official Twitter account: