(Image source from: Siasat.com)
Meta has commenced the implementation of advertisements within WhatsApp, launching this initiative with the Updates tab. This represents the first instance of ads being integrated into the messaging platform. By introducing sponsored content via the app’s “Status” feature, Meta is ushering in a significant transformation in WhatsApp's functionality, as it slowly evolves into a monetized platform utilizing advertising. The company made this announcement on Monday through its official blog, detailing three new features for the Updates tab: channel subscriptions, promoted channels, and ads in Status. In addition, WhatsApp shared that it now boasts 1.5 billion daily active users.
The advertisements will be displayed in the Status area, a feature akin to the Stories functionality found on Instagram and Facebook, which permits users to share photos, videos, or text that vanish after 24 hours. These ads will appear alongside updates shared by friends and family. Importantly, Meta affirmed that advertisements will not feature in private chats, messages, or group discussions. “For years, we have discussed our objective to foster a business model that doesn't interfere with your private conversations, and we believe the Updates tab is the ideal space for these new features,” WhatsApp communicated in its blog entry. In addition to ads, WhatsApp is launching a subscription option for channels, allowing users to pay a monthly charge for exclusive updates from their preferred channels. Furthermore, promoted channels will now be visible in the Explore section, enhancing content visibility for administrators.
WhatsApp indicated that the ads will be tailored based on limited information, including your city or country, preferred language, followed channels, and your engagement with advertisements. If you have synced WhatsApp with Meta's Accounts Center, your ad preferences from Facebook and Instagram may also affect your ad experience. However, Meta emphasized that it will not disclose or sell phone numbers to advertisers. Additionally, personal messages, calls, and group interactions will not be utilized for ad targeting, and these communications will continue to be end-to-end encrypted. Meta has contemplated introducing ads to WhatsApp for several years, although the project had been temporarily halted. In 2023, Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, verified that ad development was still in progress. Now, this change has been officially implemented. This initiative aligns WhatsApp with Meta's other platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, which already derive substantial income from advertising. Last year, Meta reported ad revenues exceeding $160 billion.
