Meta launched WhatsApp Channels in India on Wednesday. The feature is currently available in over 150 countries worldwide.

First launched in June 2023, WhatsApp Channels allow administrators to share various forms of content, including text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls, directly to their followers. These channels are conveniently located in a dedicated tab labelled "Updates" within WhatsApp, distinct from the traditional chat interface for communicating with family, friends, and communities.

The Indian Cricket Team, Katrina Kaif, Diljit Dosanjh, Akshay Kumar, Vijay Deverakonda, and Neha Kakkar are among the first channels that will be available to WhatsApp users at launch.

The introduction of WhatsApp Channels comes with a host of features designed to enhance user experience. Notable among these is an Enhanced Directory, which facilitates users in discovering channels tailored to their interests and location. Additionally, users can react to channel content using emojis, providing feedback while maintaining privacy.

Channel alerts are disabled by default, but users can enable them for updates that they don't want to miss.

Meta has also placed a strong emphasis on privacy, assuring users that following a channel won't reveal their phone number to administrators or other followers. Furthermore, channel histories will only be stored on Meta's servers for up to 30 days, giving users greater control over their data.

Administrators will also have the ability to manage their channels, including the option to block screenshots and forwards. They can even decide who can follow their channel and whether it should appear in the directory.

Prior to yesterday's rollout, the service was available in 10 countries including Singapore, Colombia, Malaysia, Kenya, Chile, Egypt and Ukraine.