WhatsApp introduces new channels feature

California: WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform, has unveiled its Channels feature, allowing users to privately follow their interests and stay updated on various topics, similar to Telegram channels.

This global expansion of Channels comes after its initial launch in eight countries and was officially announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Initially introduced in countries like Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, and Ukraine, WhatsApp Channels is now accessible in an additional 150 countries worldwide.

WhatsApp Channels provide users with a dedicated space to broadcast updates and content, distinct from Broadcast Lists, a feature that has been available on the platform for some time.

While Broadcast Lists send messages separately to recipients, Channels allow users to create publicly accessible spaces that can be followed by a wide audience.

As part of this expansion, Mark Zuckerberg himself has created his own channel, where he shares insights, updates, and news related to WhatsApp.

To access Channels, users can navigate to the new "Updates" tab on the app's home screen.

This tab includes Status updates as well as Channels, conveniently located at the bottom. Users can follow their chosen channels, and the ones they follow will appear in this section.

While some features may still be rolling out incrementally, it's worth noting that not all users may be able to create their own channels immediately.

However, several Pakistani channels are already available on the platform.