Max messenger adds polls in channels
In short
The national messenger Max has launched polls in channels, its press service said. Administrators on Android, desktop and web versions can create polls, while iOS users can publish them via the mobile web version, according to iXBT. The feature was tested by several hundred channel authors, and Max’s audience exceeds 140 million users, the company said.
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The national messenger Max has launched polls in channels, the company’s press service said, as reported by iXBT. The feature lets channel administrators create polls, and subscribers can vote and see current results. RIA Novosti and vc.ru also reported the launch. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Polls can be created by administrators on Android, desktop and web versions of the messenger, while iOS users can publish them through the mobile web version, according to iXBT. To start a poll, an administrator opens the attachments menu, selects “Poll”, enters a question and answer options and can add a cover image. [ 1 , 2 ]
Poll settings allow multiple answer choices and changing a vote, iXBT reported. Once published, subscribers can vote and see current results. The poll can be ended by its author or an administrator with the relevant rights. [ 1 ]
The feature was tested by several hundred channel authors, iXBT said, naming writer Alexander Tsypkin, TV presenters Tutta Larsen and Maryana Naumova, blogger Vasha Marusya and media manager Georgy Lobushkin. [ 1 ]
Max’s audience has exceeded 140 million users, the company said, according to iXBT. The messenger offers chats, audio and video calls, voice messages, large file transfers and money transfers. Information channels are still in a test mode. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The addition of polls gives channel administrators a new tool for audience engagement on a state-backed messenger with a reported audience of more than 140 million users. The coverage is largely a product announcement, and the documents give no independent assessment of how the feature will be used or whether it will draw users from other platforms.
Key facts
- Max launched polls in channels, the messenger’s press service said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Administrators can create polls on Android, desktop and web versions, according to iXBT and vc.ru. [ 1 , 2 ]
- iOS users can publish polls through the mobile web version, iXBT reported. [ 1 ]
- Poll creators can allow multiple answer choices and vote changes, and polls can be ended by the author or an administrator with the relevant rights. [ 1 ]
- Several hundred channel authors tested the feature, including writer Alexander Tsypkin, TV presenters Tutta Larsen and Maryana Naumova, blogger Vasha Marusya and media manager Georgy Lobushkin, according to iXBT. [ 1 ]
- Max’s audience has exceeded 140 million users, the company said, according to iXBT. [ 1 ]
- Information channels in Max remain in a test mode, iXBT reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the feature is available to all channel administrators or remains limited after testing. iXBT says the feature was tested by several hundred authors but does not state whether it is now open to all administrators.
- The exact availability for iOS users. Only iXBT says iOS users can publish polls via the mobile web version; other documents do not mention iOS.
- The reported audience figure of more than 140 million users. The figure comes from the company via iXBT and is not independently confirmed by other documents.
- The status of information channels, which iXBT says remain in test mode. Single source, with no further details on what test mode means.