The Meta-owned app WhatsApp may soon let creators earn through their channels by offering paid subscriptions. This means you can share exclusive content with your subscribers and earn money from it.
The instant messaging platform is reportedly testing a new feature that would allow users to pay a fee to subscribe to their favourite channels. Currently, all channel subscriptions are free, but the upcoming paid option would grant access to exclusive premium content.
Also Read | Made a typo? Instagram’s new feature lets you fix it fast
A notable aspect of this feature is its emphasis on transparency. The Meta-owned app is also developing a way to display a channel's paid subscriber count, which will be visible to everyone, including non-subscribers.
All about the features
“Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.14.4 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to see how many followers are subscribed to a channel," WABetainfo, a website that tracks WhatsApp-related developments, reported.
The Times Now wrote, “It will appear alongside the total follower count in the channel info section. This can help users decide whether a channel's paid content is worth subscribing to. A higher subscriber count may signal trust and popularity, while a lower number could make users think twice before paying," as the report said.
According to WABetaInfo, followers will ultimately decide for themselves whether exclusive content offers enough value, meaning the choice to subscribe always rests with the user. The report also notes that free content on a channel will remain accessible to everyone, with paid posts serving as an optional extra for those seeking more.
Meanwhile, all content, including paid posts, must comply with WhatsApp’s rules and guidelines. This ensures that creators cannot share harmful or illegal material, even when it's behind a paywall.
How to create WhatsApp channels
To create a WhatsApp Channel, open WhatsApp and go to the Channels section by tapping the speech bubble icon with a signal.
Then tap the plus (+) icon and select 'Create channel.'
Click 'Continue' enter a channel name and optionally add a description. You can also add a channel icon if you want. Once done, tap 'Create channel.'
Also Read | Summer heat getting unbearable? Check these affordable air coolers that deliver instant comfort
After creating it, you can start posting updates by tapping the send (paper airplane) icon.
You can edit your channel name, description, or icon anytime, and even pin up to two channels at the top for quick access.
