WhatsApp Officially Rolls Out Channel Categories

Jakarta, VIVA – WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called Channel Categories to make it easier for users to search for and find their favorite channels.

The Channel Categories consist of People, Organizations, Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment, Business, and News & Information.

Users who want to experience new feature can go to the Updates tab and select "Explore" under Channels to view all relevant categories and channels.

Channels on WhatsApp have been available for over a year. Currently, around 500 million people worldwide use this feature each month to enjoy information from various channels.

When introduced, Channels were described as a simple and private way for users to receive the latest updates from people and organizations of interest directly on WhatsApp.

Channel admins can send content in the form of text, photos, videos, stickers, and interactive content such as polls. Users can join a channel via an invitation link sent through chats, emails, or online posts.

WhatsApp ensures the security and privacy of users who are channel admins by not displaying their phone numbers and profile pictures to followers.

When an user follows a channel on WhatsApp, their phone number will also not be revealed to the admin or other followers.

Additionally, admins have the option to block screenshots and forwarded messages from a channel to maintain channel privacy.