2 min read
WhatsApp is adding more tools to help channel admins understand how their posts perform. The company has started rolling out a new forward count feature for channel updates. This update is available to some users on WhatsApp beta for Android. It gives admins a clearer picture of how their content spreads beyond the channel.
With WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.4.11, selected testers can now see how many times a channel update has been forwarded. The number appears below each update. It sits next to the forward button and emoji reactions. For now, only channel admins can see this data. Followers cannot view the forward count.
This move shows that WhatsApp wants to support content creators without changing the user experience. Reactions already show how followers feel about a post. However, the forward count shows how useful or shareable the update is. When someone forwards a post, it reaches new chats and groups. As a result, the update gains more visibility outside the channel. Admins can use this insight to understand which posts perform better.
Earlier, reports suggested that WhatsApp was also testing a view count feature for channel updates. That feature is still under development. The company is testing different display options. One version may show views only to admins. Another may allow followers to see them. So far, WhatsApp has not confirmed which option it will choose.
Importantly, WhatsApp says forwards remain private. When someone forwards a channel update, it stays protected by end-to-end encryption. The platform cannot see who shared it or where it was sent. Instead, WhatsApp counts the number of selected recipients. Even if a user forwards the same update several times in one chat, the app only adds the total recipients. This number is then stored on WhatsApp’s servers and shown as the forwarded statistic.
At this stage, the feature is rolling out gradually. Only some beta testers who installed the latest Android beta from the Google Play Store can access it. If testing goes well, WhatsApp is expected to expand the feature to more users soon.
