# One-Way Chat Feature Updates WhatsApp Launches its New Channels Feature Social Update By Amy Duong | Published 2023-06-08 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/channels-feature References: [engadget](https://www.engadget.com/whatsapps-new-channels-feature-lets-accounts-send-one-way-updates-to-followers-090843232.html)  [WhatsApp](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whatsapp-6) recently launched its new Channel feature, which functions similarly to the way that most [social media platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chatter-social) work. It allows users to send [one-way broadcasts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/writerry) out to their followers in the form of text, stickers, polls, or videos as much as they'd like to. The broadcasting accounts can also make the decision of who is allowed to be able to follow their channel and if they would like to be discoverable as well. WhatsApp notes that "following a channel won’t reveal your phone number to the admin or other followers," as a safety precaution. It is important that privacy is maintained and the admin's info of any channel is not shared at all with only 30 days of retained history. Image Credit: Whatsapp ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 16% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **New Channel Feature:** Platforms can develop similar features to allow one-way broadcasts for businesses to reach and interact with followers. - **Privacy and Safety Precautions:** Opportunities for companies to offer similar features while prioritizing user privacy and security. - **Interactive Messaging:** Platforms can develop new ways for businesses to interact with their followers through messaging, such as polls and stickers. ### Who This Affects Most - **Social Media:** Social media platforms can adopt similar features to enhance user engagement and experiences. - **Messaging Services:** Messaging services can implement new interactive features to improve user-business communication. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Companies can utilize these new features to improve their marketing and advertising strategies and reach their target audience more effectively. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Social Album-Creating Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whatsapp-6.md) - [Broadcast-Like Social Channels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/broadcast-channels.md) - [Social Voice Chat Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whatsapp-5.md) - [Creator-Focused Messaging Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instagram-4.md) - [WhatsApp Privacy Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inapp-controls.md) - [Telegram-Style Video Messages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/video-messaging.md) - [Social Group Voice-Chat Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/group-voice-chats.md) - [Video-Style Chat App Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instant-video-messages.md) - [Disappearing Chat Platform Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keep-in-chat.md)