Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

WhatsApp takes on Twitter with Channels

WhatsApp has launched a new feature, Channels, that looks to be an attempt to take on Twitter in the social media game.

In a new blog post, WhatsApp describes Channels as “a simple, reliable, and private way to receive important updates from people and organizations, right within WhatsApp”.

If that sounds an awful lot like WhatsApp – and by extension parent company Meta/Facebook – directly attempting to provide a replacement for Twitter, or at least a certain function of Twitter, you could be on to something.

There’ll be a new tab in the WhatsApp app known as Updates, which will separate your followed channels from your regular chats with family and friends. From here you’ll be able to receive one-way broadcasts from the people or organisations that you follow.

It’s the ‘one-way’ nature of Channels that really sets it apart from the toxic cesspit that is Twitter these days. When you send out an update to your followers, there’ll be no back and forth commenting. It’s simply a way for a single person or organisation to disseminate information (text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls) to a large number of people at once.

Finding channels will be achieved by a searchable directory, or you can receive a direct invite in chats, email, or via a website link.

Discretion seems to be the name of the game here. No phone numbers or profile pictures will be exchanged when you follow a channel. Meanwhile, channel history will only stick around for 30 days max, with options to make that even shorter, and channel admins will be able to block screenshots and forwards. This should lay to rest the familiar spectre of old posts coming back to haunt posters.

Admins will also have control over who is allowed to follow them, and can decide whether their channel is discoverable.

WhatsApp Channels will be rolling out in Colombia and Singapore at first as the company tests its capabilities, with more countries promised over the coming months.

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

author icon

Editorial independence

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

author icon

Professional conduct

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Trusted Reviews Logo

Sign up and get the best deals straight to your phone

Skip the hunt - get the latest discounts delivered directly to WhatsApp by signing up to the Trusted deals Whatsapp Channel.

Get Access