App-tracking website WaBetaInfo said Meta-owned WhatsApp is working on newsletters, now called channels, for a future update of the app.
According to WhatsApp Tracker, the new update is currently under development and not yet ready to be released to beta testers.
The messaging app was working on newsletters – a multi-tool for disseminating information – through which users would receive useful updates from the people they wanted to receive updates from.
These channels will be available in separate and optional sections in the Status tab, now called “Updates”. Users will also get an improved interface for status updates in the tab.
“A WhatsApp channel is marked as a private tool because phone numbers and user information joining a channel are always hidden. However, messages received within a channel refer to more than one will not be end-to-end encrypted as a concept. Doesn’t make much sense for channels as a large number of users will be able to subscribe to a channel,” said WaBetaInfo.
End-to-end encrypted private messages will not be affected by channels because they are themselves end-to-end encrypted.
Users will also be in control of which channels they want to subscribe to and no one will be able to see who they follow even if they are added to their contacts.
Additionally, people won’t be automatically subscribed to channels because there are no algorithmic recommendations or social graphs that show users content they don’t choose to see.
Users will easily search for a specific WhatsApp channel by entering their username, eliminating the need to visit external websites. This update will provide users with their preferred updates as it is designed to improve accessibility of channels.
