WhatsApp is working on a revolutionary innovation that will make its channels feature more interactive. The company recently integrated polls into channels and is now testing questions, which will allow channel owners to directly ask questions and collect private responses.
WhatsApp Channels Will Be More User-Friendly
WhatsApp, which began breaking the one-way communication barrier with the ability to share polls in channels in recent months, is now stepping up a gear. The new poll feature, released in the latest iOS beta version, version 25.20.10.73, aims to fundamentally change the connection between channel managers and their followers.
According to the screenshots, channel managers can easily access the poll tab from the add-ons section of the chat menu. From there, they can type an open-ended question they want to ask their followers and publish it as a channel update.
Followers, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to respond directly to the question when they see this update. Unlike polls, this feature allows followers to share their opinions and feedback in detail, in their own words.
WhatsApp prioritizes privacy when developing this feature. When a follower answers a question shared on a channel, that answer will be visible only to the channel admin. Other followers will not be able to see who answered what, react to those answers, or interact with them in any way. This approach provides a perfect environment for users to share their ideas freely and securely.
This new tool opens many doors for channel owners:
- Content Strategy: By asking followers what topics they would like to see next, they can tailor their content to their audience’s expectations.
- Feedback Gathering: They can receive direct, unfiltered feedback on the content or products they publish.
- Event Planning: They can gauge their followers’ interest or availability for an upcoming event.
- Community Engagement: For example, a local news channel could gauge the community’s pulse with a question like, “What topic would you most like to see covered in your neighborhood?”
Another important point is that if an admin decides to delete a question, all responses to that question will also be permanently deleted. These responses will not be recoverable. This feature, still in development, is expected to be rolled out to all users in the coming weeks or months. WhatsApp’s poll feature has the potential to transform channels from static bulletin boards into vibrant, interactive community hubs.
