(Reuters) – Meta Platforms announced on Wednesday that it plans to expand the availability of WhatsApp Channels to users in over 150 countries. This broadcast service allows users to receive private updates from celebrities, sports teams, and thought leaders. The move is part of Meta’s efforts to enhance engagement across its social media platforms, positioning them as central hubs for content creators to connect with their followers.
The wider rollout of WhatsApp Channels follows its initial launch in Colombia and Singapore in June. Around the same time, the Broadcast Channels feature on Instagram was also made available globally.
Within WhatsApp, channels are separate from chats, and followers cannot see each other. Meta has stated that users will be able to view recommended WhatsApp Channels based on their region and popularity. Users will also have the ability to use emojis to react to messages in a channel, similar to WhatsApp chats.
The global availability of WhatsApp Channels is expected to happen gradually in the next few weeks and months. Any person with a WhatsApp account will be able to create their own channel on the app.
Reporting from Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
