WhatsApp users on both iOS and Android will encounter a series of changes in the application starting today. These are new features that were announced a few months ago but are only available to a small group. We are now witnessing its global rollout and that is the only thing that has changed.

WhatsApp now has channels. The world’s most used messaging app (it has nearly 2 billion users) has incorporated a function that has long been available in Telegram, one of its main competitors worldwide. This is a way to receive updates from people and organizations that are not among our contacts.

The idea behind the channels is that we have a source of information within WhatsApp that is independent of States. So, for example, if we want to get information about Netflix, all we have to do is search for “Netflix” in the directory, subscribe to its channel and be informed about its updates. The same goes for other streaming platforms and our other interests.

React and communicate instead of chatting. This function, as we said, aims to provide major updates, so it is very different from group chats or traditional chats. Therefore, the ability to interact will be limited to Reactions and Polls. So we will not be able to chat within the Channels. Yes, but we can push updates to Chats.

We are faced with a one-way form of communication in which channel managers can share text, photos, videos, stickers, surveys and other elements within the platform. We should also point out that the phone numbers of both the channel administrators and their followers are kept protected. And the followed list is special.

Where are the channels? Now that WhatsApp has introduced this new feature, we will have to get used to some interface changes. These changes include a new tab called. News in the app’s bar (bottom, top or side, depending on the platform). By clicking on this we will find the new Channels and all their features.

What about States? If the Statuses tab is no longer visible when you enter the application, this does not mean that it has disappeared. Provinces are still available, but they are now in the tab mentioned above Newsi.e. in the same house as Channels but as we see these are two functions with different purposes.

Images: WhatsApp

In Xataka: The iPhone 15’s USB-C reminds us of something important: The industry needs to label cables precisely