Meta has been rolling out several new features and update on WhatsApp lately. After launching a new update which brings the ability to edit sent messages on the instant-messaging platform, WhatsApp recently rolled out a new feature called ‘Channels‘ to keep its users engaged with new tools on the platform.

With ‘Channels’, WhatsApp introduces a new type of communication to the world’s most popular chat app. The new feature is intended for one-to-many broadcasting rather than discussion.

How It’s Different Than Discussions:
The new feature ‘Channels’, which the Meta-owned company described as “a private way to follow what matters”, mentions local and sports updates as examples of how you may use it.

‘Channels’ in a new tab called Updates – where you’ll find Status and channels you choose to follow – separate from your chats with family, friends, and communities. However, ‘Channels’ are not end-to-end encrypted. They are regarded more like your messages with businesses, which are also not completely private. But WhatsApp has stated that it is considering ways to encrypt some channels in the future.

‘Channels’ feature is a one-way broadcast tool for admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls. To help select channels to follow, the company is building a searchable directory where you can find your hobbies, sports teams, updates from local officials, and more.

The new feature comes with most private broadcast service available. This starts by protecting the personal information of both admins and followers. As a channel admin, user’s phone number and profile photo won’t be shown to followers. Likewise, following a channel won’t reveal user’s phone number to the admin or other followers. Who the user decides to follow is your choice and it’s private.

As per The Verge report quoting a statement released by WhatsApp, privacy is an important component of the experience, which is why channel admins’ information isn’t shared and the app only saves 30 days of a channel’s history.