WhatsApp Channels finally offers message editing; with a catch

WhatsApp continues to enhance its Channels feature launched back in September, which helps you stay updated on specific topics and companies of your interest. Now the latest update introduces message editing in WhatsApp Channels (originally called ‘updates’). It offers users more control over their posts. Here’s what you need to know about this new feature.

While other social media and messaging platforms have supported message editing for some time, WhatsApp has yet to implement this feature in Channels. However, the company has now addressed this gap, allowing users to edit individual messages posted in Channels.

Message editing in WhatsApp Channels

As of the latest update, when companies or accounts post messages in Channels, they have up to 30 days to edit the content within each message, reports Android Police. Messages that have been altered after the fact will display an indicator next to their timestamp, providing transparency about when the message was edited. This not only ensures clarity but also prevents users from modifying messages after they’ve been seen by others.

Editing messages in Channels is a straightforward process. On Android, you can tap and hold the Channel message (update) you want to edit. When the three-dot menu appears, tap it and select “Edit.” When you finish editing, tap the checkmark. The process is similar to the app on a browser. Hover over the message you want to edit to reveal a downward-facing caret. In the dropdown, you’ll find the “Edit” option.

However, it comes with a catch

There are a couple of important points to remember about this feature. Firstly, when an account edits a message in a channel, users who follow that channel won’t receive a notification that the message was altered. It ensures that edited messages don’t disrupt users’ notifications. But it doesn’t guarantee that the users will get to know that there’s a change in the previously conveyed information. 

Secondly, this update only allows the editing of text content in messages; it doesn’t apply to photos, videos, or other types of media or files.