Prime Minister Narendra Modi's WhatsApp Channel crossed 1.3 million followers, a day after launch. WhatsApp Channels has been launched by Meta as an answer to sibling Instagram's Broadcast. WhatsApp Channels was launched in India and around 150 more countries earlier this month. Both services are aimed at letting people reach a broader set of audience at once. The Channel creator's number remains hidden, without compromising their privacy. Those who haven't received the Channels update on their WhatsApp can look up the PM WhatsApp Channel and start following it.
A screenshot of PM Modi's WhatsApp Channel (as of September 20) shows it has more than 13,50,000 followers.
The PM had posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was starting his WhatsApp Channel: “Started my WhatsApp Channel today. Looking forward to remaining connected through the medium! Join by clicking on the link."
Social networking giant Meta has emphasised the autonomy of Channels, ensuring that the identities of followers remain confidential to one another. These Channels serve as a tool for unidirectional broadcasting, allowing administrators to share various content types, including text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls, all while protecting the privacy of both administrators and followers. Much like Instagram Broadcast channels, WhatsApp Channels users can respond to updates and share feedback using emojis. The total count of reactions will be visible, but the specific reactions from administrators will remain confidential.
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In the near future, admins will get the ability to edit their updates within a 30-day window before automatic deletion from WhatsApp's servers.