What is the difference between channels and communities on WhatsApp ? 📢

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With the introduction of channels on WhatsApp, many of you don’t know the difference with communities.  We explain in this week’s  #AskTheGriots.

Channels vs communities

WhatsApp Channels are a news broadcasting service providing access to content and news directly from WhatsApp. Subscribers can interact via polls or emojis.

Communities are a collection of groups that share a common interest, such as school, business or association groups. Through an « announcement group », it is possible to quickly share information with all users in all groups.

The particularity of the announcement group

In the announcement group within communities, communication is generally unidirectional, from administrators to members of all groups.

This is precisely where confusion arises. Given the absence of functionality similar to Telegram’s « Channels » on WhatsApp, announcement groups are used to emulate this behavior, as they offer easier communication, while preserving confidentiality. And doesn’t that sound familiar? The new Channels 😉

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in comments. Your favorite griots will answer them 😁