Messenger
Whatsapp imitates Telegram: What’s behind the new channels
“What is this again?” – the new WhatsApp channels cause confusion.
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A new Whatsapp function raises questions: So-called channels can now be found in the app. What’s it all about?
Already at the beginning of the summer, Whatsapp announced the so-called channels. But the innovation was quickly forgotten because only a few countries had immediate access. This has changed in the last few days: the apps have now been switched around worldwide.
Anyone who now opens Whatsapp will see in the Current tab that something has changed. The new channels are now also available under the friends’ posts. In principle, Whatsapp has copied a basic function from the Telegram app: In the channels, for example that of Meta-CEO Mark Zuckerberg, you can stay up to date on certain topics or people.
Whatsapp channels: read only, not write
Unlike in groups, you cannot contribute anything to the discussion yourself; you only receive updates from the operators, to which you can react with emojis. You don’t learn anything about the other channel members because apart from the total number of subscriptions, there is no information about names or phone numbers. Even if your contacts subscribe to a certain channel, you won’t find out at the moment.
A subscribed channel can only be accessed via the Current tab; it cannot be found in the chat overview. WhatsApp seems to want to clearly separate the two areas from each other.
The operators of a channel can only see the phone number if they already have the respective subscriber in their contacts. Otherwise, you will only see the profile name and possibly also the profile picture, depending on your own privacy settings. Conversely, it is also not possible to view operator data or, for example, contact a prominent person directly.
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No own channels possible
At the start there are only a handful of channels on Whatsapp. Large football clubs such as FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are at the start, and some influencers and companies have already set up shop there.
Messages in the channels remain online for a maximum of 30 days, after which they are deleted. Optionally, you can also initiate the removal more quickly, but permanent storage is not intended.
In contrast to Telegram, it is currently not easy for private individuals to start a channel. But that is only a matter of time. WhatsApp writes: “In the coming months we will make it possible for everyone to create a channel.”
Bad news for those who are critical of change: It is not possible to permanently hide or switch off the channels. From now on they are an integral part of the current overview. The only exception: They are still missing in desktop apps.
source: Whatsapp