By John Ikani
In a bid to enhance its user experience, WhatsApp is set to launch a new feature that will enable users to follow accounts beyond their personal contacts.
The upcoming feature will be housed in a dedicated section called “updates,” separate from the existing private chats, and will function similarly to news feeds found on other social media platforms.
Unlike the current process of adding contacts via phone numbers, users will now have the ability to search for and follow individuals and organizations of their interest.
This includes sports teams, government officials, and accounts centred around hobbies and various interests. Page owners, known as “channels,” will also have the option to invite people to join via direct links.
Prominent entities like Premier League champions Manchester City and the World Health Organization have already signed up for this new feature.
Eventually, any user will be able to create their own channel, further expanding the diversity of content available.
Posts from these channels will encompass a range of media, including text, photos, videos, and polls.
The updates will be displayed in the new updates tab, alongside the status updates that users can already share with their contacts.
Upon tapping into an update in the feed, channels will appear similar to regular WhatsApp chats, with the exception that users won’t be able to send messages in response.
Privacy Concerns Addressed
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has emphasized that channels will function as a “private broadcast service,” with the phone numbers and profile photos of both channel owners and followers remaining concealed.
Channels will also have the option to be unsearchable.
Updates will only be retained on Meta’s servers for a maximum of 30 days before being deleted.
However, unlike WhatsApp’s renowned end-to-end encryption for chats, channels will not possess the same level of security.
Meta justified this decision by stating that since the objective of channels is to reach a broader audience, the privacy guarantee offered by end-to-end encryption, which prevents unauthorized access to chat messages, is not as essential.
Nevertheless, Meta has expressed openness to exploring the inclusion of end-to-end encryption for specific channels in particular cases, such as those associated with non-profit organizations or health entities.
Prioritizing Private Messaging
While the introduction of channels may draw comparisons to early Facebook and Twitter functionalities, Meta has reassured users that private messaging will remain WhatsApp’s primary focus. The company has already disclosed its plans to develop a text-based, Twitter-like platform for updates.
Channels will initially be rolled out in Colombia and Singapore, with further expansion to other countries, including the United Kingdom, in the upcoming months.
