What It Is And How It Works: A New Channels Alert Feature That WhatsApp Is Testing
The WhatsApp Channels feature was introduced by Meta last week in India and other nations. You may send one-way broadcasts with this tool, including text, images, videos, stickers, and polls. WhatsApp is now testing a new feature that will let channel owners know the status of their channels, particularly when they are not accessible in a certain country.
According to reports, WhatsApp is taking these actions to adhere to local rules in certain jurisdictions that can prohibit the sharing of sensitive information.
For whom is this feature offered?
According to WABetaInfo, certain beta testers may access this functionality after installing the most recent WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.20.9 update from the Google Play Store. Following this update, WhatsApp informs the channel’s owner that their channel is blocked in a certain nation. In the next days, this functionality will be made available to additional people.
“These alerts aim to keep channel creators informed about the status of their channels in specific countries where they might be restricted due to legal requirements,” WABetaInfo said. The company went on to say that “this proactive approach shows that WhatsApp is dedicated to following local laws and protecting human rights while offering a safe and private platform for its users.”
How Do You Determine If You Have This Feature?
Unless you subscribe to a channel that is explicitly unavailable in your location, there is currently no way to know whether this functionality is accessible to you. Additionally, WABetaInfo claims that they are unable to confirm any such channels at this time; nonetheless, the outlet points out that producers already have access to these channel notifications.
