WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.11: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.26.4.11.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded, and it's available to some beta testers!
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Statistics for forwarded channel updates |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.11 has been designated as a compatible update. |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Sc and Akan, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.10: what's new? WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to label channel updates as paid partnerships! |
WhatsApp is rolling out statistics for forwarded channel updates
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.24.15 update, we announced a feature that displays the number of views for channel updates. This feature is currently under development and it will let channel owners see how many times their updates were viewed. WhatsApp is currently testing two configurations. The first allows only admins to see their channel's update statistics. The second would also allow followers to view these view statistics. At this time, it's unknown which configuration WhatsApp will choose in the future or whether it will give admins control over the decision.
This feature is still under development to ensure a bug-free experience ahead of its official release at a later date. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is now launching a new tool that provides administrators with useful information about their channel updates. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.11 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded.
As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers may have access to a feature that lets them see how many times a channel update was forwarded. The number of times a channel update has been forwarded will appear next to the forward button, alongside the emojis followers used to react to the update. It is worth noting that this analytics tool is reserved for channel admins. This means that followers won't be able to see how many times a channel update has been forwarded, at least for now.
Seeing how many times a channel update has been forwarded can be very useful for channel admins. This information can help them understand which content has been the most engaging. For admins, an update being forwarded can be more valuable than receiving a reaction. This is because a forward spreads the content to new audiences, extending its reach beyond the current followers. Based on this information, admins can share similar content to encourage more forwards.
It's very important to explain how this statistic is calculated. When a channel update is forwarded in a conversation, it is first secured with end-to-end encryption before being delivered to the selected recipients. This means that WhatsApp doesn't know who forwarded the channel update in chats or groups, as WhatsApp doesn't keep a record of this information. In fact, this number increases even if users forward the channel update multiple times in the same chat. As a result, the app only counts the number of selected contacts the channel update is sent to. This count is then saved on the server and added to the total forwards for that channel update.
The feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update from the Google Play Store. This feature is currently rolling out to some beta testers. Meanwhile, WhatsApp continues to monitor its performance and ensure a bug-free experience. Once this testing is complete, WhatsApp will release this feature to a wider audience, allowing more admins to see how many times their channel updates have been forwarded.
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