WhatsApp Channels, a new feature designed for content creators and organisations to share updates, has made its debut in South Africa this September. Following its global launch in 150 countries last week, WhatsApp Channels is set to revolutionise the way users engage with content on the platform.
South African users will notice a significant change in the user interface, as the familiar “Status” menu has been replaced with “Updates.” Beneath the updates from their contacts, users will find the newly introduced Channels tab. This innovative feature, initially introduced by Meta-owned WhatsApp in June, offers a chat-like feed that allows users to follow specific accounts.
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Enhanced User Experience with Interactive Elements
WhatsApp Channels provide a simple, dependable, and private way for users to receive vital information directly within the app. It enables users to interact with content creators and organisations through reactions with emojis. While the interaction remains limited to emoji responses, users can engage with a variety of content types, including images, text, and videos. The structure of this feature closely resembles Telegram’s chat feeds, where users can subscribe to channels and receive content without direct interaction.
Among the early adopters of Channels in South Africa is eTV, a popular television network. eTV’s Channel offers viewers show updates, including airing times and trailers. This addition enhances the user experience, providing a convenient way to stay informed about their favourite programs.
Meta’s Strategy for Channel Discovery
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has implemented an enhanced directory feature to help users discover Channels based on their region. The directory prioritises local Channels, followed by those with high activity levels, popularity, and newly created channels. When users follow a Channel, they will receive notifications for new updates, similar to regular chat messages. To access the latest content, users can simply navigate to the Channel in their Updates tab. Furthermore, users have the option to forward these updates to individual chats or groups, complete with a backlink to allow others to follow the same Channels.
At present, only organisations and content creators have the capability to create Channels. However, WhatsApp has plans to open this feature to all users in the near future. The company stated, “This is just the beginning, and we’ll continue to add more features and expand Channels based on feedback we get from users. Over the coming months, we’ll also make it possible for anyone to create a channel.”
A World of Opportunities for Content Consumption
Although the number of available Channels may currently be limited, there are certainly several worth following for the latest updates. WhatsApp Channels is poised to transform the content consumption experience, offering users a new way to engage with their favourite content creators and organisations.
This introduction of WhatsApp Channels in South Africa marks a significant step forward in Meta’s efforts to enhance user engagement and provide a platform for content sharing and discovery. As the feature continues to evolve and more users embrace it, WhatsApp Channels is set to play a pivotal role in the way people interact with content on the popular messaging platform.
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Debut of WhatsApp channels
Whatsapp Channels launched in June for subscribers in Singapore and Colombia. The social platform’s introduced this function to enable users to follow various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), medical research institutes (MRIs), fact-checking institutions, and local authorities (CAs) for important updates.
After initially launching in Singapore and Colombia in June this year, WhatsApp’s Channels feature has steadily expanded its reach. In July, it included Egypt, Malaysia, Chile, Morocco, Kenya, Ukraine, and Peru. It has gone on to expand to more than a 100 countries since then.