Simply put, a WhatsApp channel is like any other group, except that only admins can post in it. It basically serves two basic uses:
- Dissemination of messages for information purposes. In this way, notices or messages of any kind can be sent to different groups of people without the conversation getting in the way of the main topic of the group.
- Distribution of links, usually for commercial purposes. Generally, offers and bargains of various kinds are shared in this type of channel.
These channels have the same limitations as WhatsApp groups: 256 users. A channel can be created from scratch, or a group can be turned into a broadcast channel. To do this, open the first App and then click on the menu button (top right of the screen):
WhatsApp main view
With the menu open, click New Group:
Whatsapp menu
Here you select the participants in the group and click on the icon with the green arrow:
Create a group
In the next window, enter a name for the group and click the green tick button :
Name and foundation of the group
Once the group is created, then press the menu button again within the group):
WhatsApp group created
Click now Group info:
Group call menu
On the next screen we click Group Settings:
Information about the group
Here we click Send messages:
group settings
Finally, let’s change the option All participants in Only admins:
Settings for posting messages
If you now return to the conversation, you will see a message informing users that only admins can post in this group:
Administrator rights changed
As we have said on other occasions, this form of message dissemination does not have functionalities as complete as those of competitors such as Telegram, but it cannot be denied that it works just as well.