Since summer 2023, more or less, the Whatsapp application has expanded the menu of services offered to its rather numerous users by introducing channels. A function that, not requiring a remote control, can be easily used - actively or passively, let’s say - with a few simple moves. A function that, however, at a first glance, does not seem so revolutionary or necessary as you would like.
Starting from the official description, we see that the channels are "a simple, reliable and private way to receive important updates from people and organizations directly on whatsapp, in a new tab called Updates, where you can find the status and channels you choose to follow separated from the chats with friends, family and communities". So far so good. In more detail, the channels "are a transmission tool with which administrators can send text, photos, videos, stickers and surveys. To access a channel through invitation links received in chat, email or posted online".
@gbr.tech 😱🤩 ECCO I CANALI WHATSAPP! Finalmente una nuova interessante funzione su WhatsApp! Ecco cosa sono e a cosa servono i CANALI! —- #gbrtech #tech #tecnologia #trucchitech #whatsapp #aggiornamentowhatsapp #truccowhatsapp #canaliwhatsapp #innovazione #digitale #informazione ♬ Paris - Else
In essence it is - Aranzulla will forgive the simplification - an evolution of the old broadcast, ie a transmission of messages and information "one to many": the administrator of a channel writes and publishes, the others only read, they can only interact with him and not with other subscribers and at the limit react to the published content with smiles and thumbs raised or verses. Each user can create channels at will, just to flood the web a little more and increase the background noise. To date, the most robust channels are those of the teams of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester, which together exceed 90 million followers. Followed by Katrina Kaif, Bad Bunny, Liverpool FC. Mark Zuckerberg stops at 16 million followers, who will certainly appreciate its 4 contents (just 4, number): a small paradox since he is the head of Meta, which is headed by Whatsapp.
Many news publications and newspapers have created their own channels, which at the end of the day are nothing more than a new, revised and involute version of social media: the administrator publishes a content, we say shares. Subscribers, those who have chosen to follow that channel, can see photos, videos, read texts and, at the very least, react with an emoji. No controversy, no endless discussions, no lawsuits, maybe. Just a smiley face or a sketch to express approval or outrage. Although by default channel administrators can limit this option to a predefined set of reactions, eliminating the most inappropriate ones. All the new content of the channels we chose to follow will then appear in the area where the smartphone reports updates: the green dot will signal the presence of unread content or been updated. Now, given that Barcelona, Katrina Kaif and Mark Zuckerberg and the tens of millions of their followers can obviously not go wrong (like the famous saying about flies), one wonders what can be the added value and real usefulness of this innovation.
@mayowafuntv Whatsapp channel and how to remove it #whatsappchannel #whatsapp #tech #technology ♬ Feel Good - Tundra Beats
That actually appears an a-social choice and a return to one-way communication: I do not share, I inform you, I publish something and you put your thumb or middle finger as a reaction. End. A passage from sharing to information to which they believed Corriere della sera (106k followers), Sole 24 ore (93 k), Post (107k), Linkiesta (8.7k), Vanity Fair (134k), Fanpage (821k), Rainews (749K), Avvenire (24k), Libero (26k), Factanza Media (7.9k) and others.
There is, however, fundamental doubt about the actual usefulness of the instrument. The updates of Whatsapp channels in fact, generating further echo of content already present elsewhere, will add to the notifications and updates that we receive on the smartphone from all other social networks, X, Threads, Facebook, Telegram, going to create more chaos and communication smog, which benefits only fake news and hoaxes more or less shameless. Or not?
Illustration by Gloria Dozio - Acrimònia Studios
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