Navigation Changes
WhatsApp will update its navigation bar, with the Status Tab being renamed as Update. Messages related to these channels will appear separately from Status, making it easier for users to access channel content.
Suggested Channels
Users will be presented with popular channel suggestions, and they can explore and find channels based on criteria like New, Most Active, and Popular.
Channel Admin Capabilities
Channel admins can send various types of content, including text, photos, videos, and stickers. The privacy of channel admins is maintained, as their phone numbers won't be visible to others.
Forwarded Messages
When posts from a channel are forwarded to other groups or chats, the name of the original channel will be displayed alongside the message. This allows users to discover and follow the channel from which the message originated.
Joining Channels
Users can join channels through invite links, and this activity is private, meaning others can't see which channels you're following.
Message Expiry and Editing
Messages within channels will remain for 30 days, during which time the channel admin can edit them.
It will be interesting to see how WhatsApp users in different countries embrace and utilize these new features, and whether the platform expands on this concept in the future.