And now, people are using WhatsApp for more than just messaging friends and family. Introduced last year, WhatsApp Channels is a new feature that gives people an easy way to get updates and information straight from the individuals and organisations that matter to them.

Whether you’re into keeping up with football clubs, content creators, or celebrities, you can now do it on WhatsApp Channels. If you’re new to WhatsApp Channels, here are four things you should know:

1. Easily find your favourites

You can find Channels to follow that are automatically filtered based on your country. You can also filter Channels by those that are new, most active, and popular.

2. Separate from your personal chats

WhatsApp Channels can be found in a new tab called Updates – separate from your personal chats with friends and family. Anyone can choose to follow a Channel by browsing and following the Channels they’re interested in.

3. Simple and user friendly

Find and follow your favourite creators, celebrities and organisations and stay up to date with updates, shared as text, photos, videos, stickers, voice messages and even polls.

As a follower, you can react to WhatsApp Channel updates using emojis to give feedback and see a count of how others reacted too. How you react will not be shown to other followers.

4. Private by design

WhatsApp Channels come with strong privacy protections that people expect from WhatsApp. As a WhatsApp Channel admin, your phone number and profile photo are kept private from followers.

Similarly, when you follow a Channel, your phone number is not visible to the admin or other followers.

Captured in an infographic, it highlights Meta’s ongoing milestones and successes across the region while reinforcing its continued investment and commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa.

With a focus on connecting communities, supporting the creator ecosystem, and driving innovation, Meta has strategically directed resources toward initiatives that align with its mission to give people the power to build communities and bring the world closer together.

“As we reflect on the past year,  we are thrilled to announce our key milestones and investments across Sub-Saharan Africa,” says Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Africa Middle East & Turkey, Meta. “We remain committed to the continent, and our 2023 highlights reinforces some of the impact we’ve been able to create by supporting the growing ecosystems of creators and building communities through technology.”

Some of the key highlights in the 2023 Year in Review include:

Creator Lab Live: 

Launched the Creator Lab Live, a first-of-its-kind educational in-real-life programme for creators in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to inspire creativity, spread positivity, build connections and demonstrate care for the creator community.

Instagram Creators x Brand Academy nano course:

Launched the Instagram Creators x Brand Academy nano course in South Africa in partnership with Red and Yellow (Creative School of Business), a short course to educate creators, aspiring creators and brands on best practices.

‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’:

Announced the rising stars edition of our ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ campaign to amplify the voices and stories of eight emerging young talents across Africa who are building a global presence, and changing the way the continent and its people are viewed on the international stage including rolling out Instagram #AfricaMade Reels challenge.

WhatsApp Channels:

Launched a content series through collaboration with local content creators in SSA to showcase the benefits of WhatsApp Channels for users.

EbaSafeOnline:

Launched a first-of-its-kind youth safety educational comic book titled #EbaSafeOnline, available in 11 of South Africa’s official languages in partnership with Ethnikids, an online bookstore in South Africa.

Youth Safety and Wellbeing: 

Held a Youth Safety and Wellbeing week in South Africa, engaging with more than 300 youths, parents, educators, and policymakers to educate and inform youth and parents about Meta’s safety tools.

My Digital World:

Hosted a Digital Literacy for Peacebuilding forum in Ethiopia to address the role of digital literacy in peacebuilding and announce the expansion of My Digital World – aimed at equipping young people with information and skills to help them thrive in a digitally connected world.

African XR Realities Lab:

Partnered with Electric South to launch the African XR Realities Lab, an incubation program featuring eight Extended Reality (XR) prototypes leveraging diverse, immersive technologies.

Meta Connect 2023:

Launched a digital campaign in collaboration with Nigerian creators to produce captivating content in anticipation of the annual Meta Connect conference.

WhatsApp is rolling out the red carpet for thousands of new channels, ranging from popular names like BellaNaija, Nedu Wazobia & MC Lively, to even Mark Zuckerberg himself, who has launched his own WhatsApp Channel. This expansion ensures that users have a diverse array of content to explore.

This exciting feature is being introduced to over 150 countries, allowing users worldwide to access a private and personalized way to stay informed.

These Channels operate independently from your regular chats, ensuring a distinct and private experience. What you choose to follow is not visible to other followers. The personal information of both admins and followers will be protected, ensuring that your data remains secure.

Enhancements Galore: Making Channels Even Better

WhatsApp Channels aim to provide the most user-friendly experience possible. Here’s a sneak peek at some upcoming enhancements:

• Enhanced Directory: Finding channels to follow is now easier than ever. The directory automatically filters channels based on your country. You can also explore new, highly active, and popular channels based on the number of followers.
• Reactions: Express yourself using emojis to give feedback on updates. Your reactions are private and not visible to other followers.
• Editing: Admins will soon have the ability to make updates for up to 30 days. Afterward, WhatsApp will automatically delete them from servers.
• Forwarding: When you forward an update to chats or groups, it includes a link back to the channel, making it simple for others to find more information.

This is just the beginning for WhatsApp Channels. The platform targets adding more features and expanding Channels based on user feedback. In the coming months, they will make it possible for anyone to create their channel, democratizing the broadcasting experience.

For users keen on receiving real-time updates directly from WhatsApp, the official WhatsApp Channel has been introduced. This channel serves as an authoritative source for staying informed about the latest developments and innovations coming from WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Channels is ushering in a new era of personalized and private communication. With its global reach, commitment to privacy, and a slew of upcoming enhancements, WhatsApp is ensuring that users have a reliable and secure way to stay connected and informed. The world of communication is evolving, and WhatsApp is leading the charge with Channels, bringing us all a little closer together in a private and personalized way.