WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.19.3: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.19.3.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature to let users subscribe to paid channels and access exclusive content, and it will be available in a future update!

WhatsApp has announced channel subscriptions, a new feature that will allow channel owners to monetize their content by offering exclusive updates and perks to paying subscribers. Each subscription, set by the channel owner and lasting 30 days, unlocks special content unavailable to non-subscribers. Once a channel enables subscriptions, a diamond icon will appear in the top app bar to highlight its exclusive content. This approach provides a powerful way for creators and businesses to connect more deeply with their most loyal fans while generating revenue directly from their channel community. This feature is currently under development, but WhatsApp appears to be quickly refining it ahead of its official beta release, aiming to provide users with a more optimized experience from the outset. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.19.3 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to let users subscribe to paid channels and access exclusive content!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will enable channel owners to set up subscriptions for their channels, scheduled for release in a future update. To keep payments and transactions secure, WhatsApp will ask channel owners to first authenticate their identities by logging in to their Facebook account. For those who do not already have a Facebook account, they can create a new one exclusively for this purpose, allowing them to complete the authentication process and activate subscriptions for their channel safely and smoothly. Once the Facebook account is successfully connected and WhatsApp approves the submission, the channel will become eligible to activate subscriptions, allowing it to provide exclusive messages, stories, and media directly to its paying followers.

When a channel offers a subscription, followers who wish to become subscribers will have the opportunity to sign up directly from their WhatsApp application, choosing their preferred plan and proceeding to payment quickly and easily. To complete the transaction safely and efficiently, the user will need to be already logged in to their Google Play Store account, as payments will be processed through the Google Play billing service to provide a well-established and reliable payments framework. As soon as the payment is processed, the subscriber will immediately gain access to all future exclusive content, and they will also be able to view previously shared updates from the last 30 days. This means that new subscribers can quickly familiarize themselves with the kind of content a channel offers and appreciate the value of their subscriptions right away.

It's important to mention that subscribers will have complete control over their subscriptions, as they can cancel their subscriptions at any time. Additionally, unfollowing a channel will also result in the automatic cancellation of its associated subscription, ensuring that payments are discontinued immediately and transparently. This means users aren't locked into a plan and can adjust their preferences easily.

This tool will help channel owners generate a reliable stream of revenue from their content, allowing them to share exclusive updates for their most devoted fans and supporters who wish to get a little more from their favorite creators. For creators, this means a more stable income, which can be reinvested into developing their content and improving its overall quality. At the same time, this approach lets them maintain their free content alongside their paid messages. It's worth noting that channels will be able to choose what kind of content they want to share, whether it's for everyone or exclusively for subscribers. This means that having a subscription option doesn't necessarily make all content paid. Users will still be free to follow a channel without subscribing if they prefer. In this way, subscriptions remain a choice, not a requirement, for accessing content shared in a channel.

A feature to let users subscribe to paid channels and access exclusive content! is under development and it will be available in a future update. We will keep you updated with an additional article as soon as we have more details to share about this feature.

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