Channels: New WhatsApp Feature That Allows Admins To Block Screenshots

Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, on Thursday, June 8 announced a new feature on WhatsApp dubbed Channels.

In a blog post, WhatsApp noted that the new feature will be a simple, reliable, and private way to receive important updates from people and organizations, right within the platform boasting over 2 billion users.

The one-way broadcast will be built in a new tab dubbed Updates - where one will find the Status and channels he or she chooses to follow - separate from chats with family, friends, and communities.

A photo of a series of WhatsApp chats displaying the new 'Channels' feature taken on June 8, 2023. /WHATSAPP BLOG

"Channels are a one-way broadcast tool for admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls. To help you select channels to follow, we’re building a searchable directory where you can find your hobbies, sports teams, updates from local officials, and more.

"You can also get to a channel from invite links sent in chats, e-mail, or posted online," the blog post read in part.

WhatsApp further expressed its aspiration in building the most private broadcast service available, beginning with the protection of the personal information of both admins and followers.

Simply put, as a channel admin, your phone number and profile photo won’t be shown to followers and following a channel won’t reveal your phone number to the admin or other followers. Who you decide to follow is your choice and it’s private.

"Similar to how we build messaging, we don’t believe Channel updates should have to stick around forever.

"So we’ll only store channel history on our servers for up to 30 days and we’ll add ways to make updates disappear even faster from follower’s devices. Admins will also have the option to block screenshots and forwards from their channel," added the blog post.

Channels will also give admins new powers to decide who can follow their channel and whether they want their channel to be discoverable in the directory or not. Given the aim of Channels is to reach a wide audience, channels are not end-to-end encrypted by default.

"We do think there are some cases where end-to-end encrypted channels to a limited audience might make sense, such as a non-profit or health organization, and we’re exploring this as a future option as well," added WhatsApp.

To kick off Channels, WhatsApp announced that it will work with leading global voices and select organizations in Colombia and Singapore, where Channels will first be available, to build, learn, and adapt the experience.

The feature will then be introduced to more countries and the ability for anyone to create a channel over the coming months.

"We also believe there is an opportunity to support admins with a way for them to build a business around their channel using our expanding payment services as well as the ability to promote certain channels in the directory to help increase awareness.

"Naturally, the core of how people use WhatsApp will continue to be private messaging among friends, family, and communities, and that will always be our first priority. Building channels is a big step our users have asked us to take for years," WhatsApp expressed.

Other newly-introduced features such as an edit feature allowing users to edit a text message within a 15-minute window, the new Chat Lock feature which gives users the freedom to lock and hide conversations, and using the messaging app on up to four phones have enhanced how users send messages across WhatsApp in 2023.