WhatsApp upgrades Channels: dedicated profiles and scheduling

We’re asked a lot about the difference between WhatsApp Communities and Channels, so let’s start there.

A Community is a group conversation. A Channel is a one-way broadcast. You send updates to people who’ve opted in, and they can react with emojis or vote in polls, but they can’t type replies. That makes Channels quick and simple, ideal for daily or weekly alerts. Formula 1, the Met Office and Jellycat all run one. You’ll find them by tapping Channels in WhatsApp’s bottom bar.

The upgrade: Channel admins can now set up a dedicated profile with its own name and photo, completely separate from their personal WhatsApp. If you run several Channels, each can have a different profile. It’s a welcome fix for anyone who’s felt awkward mixing work and personal life in one app. It’s rolling out to Android beta testers first.

There are also reports that scheduling is coming to Channels, which would be really useful for planning updates in advance.

One thing to remember: people have to opt in, so you’ll need to promote your Channel properly to grow it.