Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is rolling out a novel forwarding message feature for channels on both Android and iOS. The official announcement made recently through WhatsApp’s official channel, as reported by WABetaInfo.
This new feature empowers users to share channel messages with their contacts. By selecting a message and choosing the ‘forward’ action, users can now easily distribute channel content to their connections.
This advancement provides channel creators with a valuable tool to expand their audience and attract new followers.
The forwarded messages will include a direct entry point to the channel, simplifying the process for recipients to follow the channel by selecting ‘View channel’.
The feature is currently accessible to a limited group of users who have updated their WhatsApp app to the latest versions on both the iOS App Store and Android Play Store. The release will gradually extend to a broader user base in the coming days.
Just last month, WhatsApp expanded its channels functionality to encompass an additional seven countries, such as Egypt, Chile, Malaysia, Morocco, Ukraine, Kenya, and Peru. These channels serve as a one-way broadcasting tool, allowing administrators to share text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls with their audiences.
Earlier reports had hinted at WhatsApp’s development of a message reaction feature for channels.
This anticipated feature could be implemented within a new section called “Channel settings,” which would empower administrators to manage diverse options for their channels. Admins might gain the ability to control the types of reactions that users can send to the channel.