In short, a WhatsApp channel is like any other group, except that only administrators can post. It has, basically, two basic uses:

  • Diffusion of messages for information purposes. In this way, notices or news of any kind can be sent to different groups of people, without the conversation getting in the way of the main subject of the group.
  • Diffusion of links, usually for commercial purposes. Generally, in this type of channel, offers and bargains of different kinds are shared.

These channels have the same limitation as WhatsApp groups: 256 users. It can be created from the beginning, or a group can be turned into a broadcast channel. To do this, first, open the app and click on the menu button (in the top right corner of the screen):

WhatsApp’s main interfaceWhatsApp’s main interface

On the menu, tap on New Group:

WhatsApp’s menuWhatsApp’s menu

Now, select the participants in the group and tap on the green arrow icon:

Creating a groupCreating a group

Next, enter a name for the group and tap on the green tick button:

Naming and creating the groupNaming and creating the group

Once you have created the group, tap the menu button again (within the group itself):

WhatsApp group createdWhatsApp group created

Now, tap on Group info:

Menu of the group conversationMenu of the group conversation

On the next screen, tap on Group Settings:

Group informationGroup information

Now, we tap on Send Messages:

Group settingsGroup settings

And here, we change the option from All participants to Only admins:

Settings to post messagesSettings to post messages

If you return to the conversation now, you will see a message informing users that only administrators can post to this group:

Permissions changed for adminsPermissions changed for admins

As we have already said on other occasions, this way of spreading messages does not have such complete functionalities as those of rivals such as Telegram, but it works just as well.