WhatsApp users in over 150 countries can now receive updates from their favourite brands, sports teams, artists, and thought leaders via WhatsApp Channels.
Channels are a one-way broadcast tool for admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls to an unlimited number of followers.
They are separate from chats, and who you choose to follow is not visible to other followers.
To find channels to follow, you can search the directory or use invite links sent in chats, email, or posted online. You can also find channels that are automatically filtered based on your country.
Once you follow a channel, you will see its updates in a new tab called Updates, separate from your chats with family, friends, and communities. You can react to updates using emojis, and you can forward updates to chats or groups.
WhatsApp said it would add more features and expand Channels based on feedback from users. It added that it was working on making it possible for anyone to create a channel "over the coming months."
The company also launched an official WhatsApp Channel for product updates.
