WhatsApp may soon allow channel admins to invite contacts on iOS, here’s what this means for you
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow admins to send channel invites directly to their contacts. This feature aims to help channels gain greater reach while avoiding the need to rely solely on public links. It is now being tested on iOS and Android.
WhatsApp may soon make it easier for admins to invite people to join their channels. The Meta-owned platform is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow admins to send invitations to their contacts to join their channel. This can potentially help expand a channel’s reach and followers.
According to WaBetaInfo, WhatsApp started testing the feature on Android last week, and it is now available for select beta users on iOS.
How do you invite people to join your WhatsApp channel?
According to the report, channel admins will be able to open the channel info screen to access this feature. On this page, admins can select the contacts they want to invite through the invite option. Once selected, WhatsApp will automatically generate an invitation message that will be sent to specific contacts. You can select up to 64 contacts at once to send invitations.
The invitation sent to contacts will not be the usual link that someone might get to join a WhatsApp group. In fact, it will also have a button to view the channel before deciding to follow it. This will allow the contact to take a brief look and decide whether they want to join the channel or not.
Would the invitation be a spam message?
WhatsApp will reportedly ensure that channel invite links do not trigger spam detection on the platform. When a channel administrator sends an invite, the app will create a temporary broadcast list to send it to all selected contacts at once. This will help avoid spam detection, which is triggered when a user sends the same message to multiple people on the platform.
Now, if you’re worried that you might get flooded with invitations from people who have saved your number, WhatsApp will only show you invitations from administrators who are in your contacts.
Why is WhatsApp testing this feature?
Directly inviting contacts can help more people follow the channel, especially when it is shared by someone who is saved to the user’s contacts. This can be especially useful for people who have just started a new WhatsApp channel and want to get more reach without relying on public links.
