WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.8.6.
What’s new in this update? We discovered that WhatsApp keeps working on newsletters, which are now called channels, available in a future update of the app!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Channels |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is working on bringing the ability to create channels to a future update. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is under development so it is not ready to be released to beta testers, but you can discover a preview in this article. |
| How to join the community on WhatsApp? | WABetaInfo Community |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.8.5: what’s new? WhatsApp is working on an entry point to open and manage locked chats! |
CHANNELS
In February, we discovered a new feature under development referred to a private newsletter tool, available in a future update of the app. Newsletters are designed to be a one-to-many tool for broadcasting information, allowing users to easily receive useful updates from other people they want to get updates from. The feature is still in development but, thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.8.6 update available on the Play Store, we discovered that this feature has been renamed to “Channels”, as shown in this screenshot:
As announced in the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.5.8 update, channels will be available as a separate and optional section within the Status tab, now called “Updates”. The revamped tab will also include a redesigned interface for status updates, that will appear horizontally in the future.
A WhatsApp Channel is marked as a private tool since phone numbers and user information joining a channel are always hidden. However, messages received within a channel won’t be end-to-end encrypted as the concept of one-to-many referred to channels wouldn’t make much sense as a large number of users will be able to subscribe to a channel. It is worth noting that channels will not affect the end-to-end encryption of private messaging as they continue to be end-to-end encrypted. This means no one else, not even WhatsApp, Meta, and a proxy provider, can read your personal messages and listen to your private calls.
Since this is an optional extension of private messaging and it does not pivot to a public social network, people are always in control over which channels they want to subscribe to, and no one else will be able to see whom they follow, regardless of whether they have added them as contacts or not. In addition, there isn’t a way people get auto-subscripted to channels as there are no algorithmic recommendations or social graphs pushing content to users that they didn’t choose to see.
Channels will support handles so users will be able to search for a specific WhatsApp channel by simply entering its username within WhatsApp, eliminating the need to navigate to external websites. This feature is designed to improve the accessibility of channels, making it easier for users to get their preferred updates.
Channels are under development and they will be released in a future update of WhatsApp. As always, we’re going to keep you up to date by posting an additional article on this website in the event we have further details to share with you.
Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on Twitter where you can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.
Do you like this news? Please, let us know on Twitter: we love hearing your feedback! If you’re curious to know where you can find WABetaInfo, there is a dedicated page where you can discover our services.
In addition, we have set up a Discord Server where you can chat with other people, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest announcements from WABetaInfo.