Jakarta –
WhatsApp finally released the feature Channel or Channels in Indonesia and in more than 150 other countries. This feature was previously launched on a limited basis in Singapore and Colombia last June.
WhatsApp Channel or WhatsApp Channel is a one-way communication forum between individuals or organizations and their followers. Channel admins can send updates in the form of text, photos, videos, documents, and reactions.
WhatsApp Public Policy Manager for Indonesia Esther Samboh explained that Channels are an optional feature and separate from users’ private conversations. Users are free to follow the channels they like, and can access channels via the Updates tab.
“It is very important to emphasize that this WhatsApp Channel does not interfere with private conversations. This means that the Channel tab will be in a different tab from our personal messaging,” said Esther in a virtual media briefing, Wednesday (13/9/2023).
Esther added that the Updates tab will appear in the navigation bar at the bottom of the WhatsApp application. This tab will replace the Status tab, so users will be able to access Status and Channels in one place.
On the Updates tab, users can search for the channel they want to follow. WhatsApp also provides filters to view the most popular, newest, most active channels, or all channels. Users can also see a preview of content uploaded by the Channel in the last 30 days.
Currently there are thousands of channels that users can follow WhatsApp in Indonesia, including musicians such as Olivia Rodrigo and David Guetta, to sports clubs such as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Several Indonesian organizations also have channels on WhatsApp, including BMKG and Freemantle for shows such as X Factor Indonesia and Indonesian Idol.
Content shared on the Channel will be sorted chronologically according to the time it was uploaded. Because it is a one-way communication, users cannot comment on content uploaded by the Channel admin, but users can provide reactions in the form of emojis.
Currently only organizations and individuals with green tick accounts who are already Meta and WhatsApp partners can create Channels. “In the next few months, we will start considering allowing anyone to create a Channel on WhatsApp,” said Esther.
Esther emphasized WhatsApp Channel continues to prioritize user privacy and security. So personal information such as the admin’s telephone number and profile photo will not be visible to followers, and vice versa. Fellow followers also cannot see channels followed by other users.
The Channel feature is available for Android and iOS users starting today, Wednesday (13/9). This feature will be rolled out gradually, and users are advised to update the WhatsApp application on their devices to the latest version to try out this new feature.
Watch the video “Three new text formats that WhatsApp is developing”
(vmp/rns)
2023-09-13 13:07:34
#WhatsApp #Channel #Officially #Released #Indonesia #Updates #Favorite #Accounts
