Brace Yourself: WhatsApp Is Finally Getting Ads

Meta has been hinting at bringing advertisements to its popular messaging app WhatsApp for years. Finally, WhatsApp is getting these ads. In a blog post, the company has announced that it will now show advertisements from businesses through Stories-like status functionality. The feature will work just like stories on Instagram, where you see ads after viewing a few updates.

WhatsApp’s Update tab is getting ads

WhatsApp is getting some new features for its Updates tab, including ads. The Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status, is getting a rework. As per the official blog post, WhatsApp will now allow channels to offer paid subscriptions. Thanks to the update, the creators or businesses will be able to offer exclusive updates for a monthly fee.

The messaging platform plans to let businesses promote their Channels in the Discovery section of the mobile app. As per Meta, WhatsApp will process these payments through app stores. WhatsApp’s announcement to show ads brings it in line with Meta’s other social networking platforms, Facebook and Instagram.

Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, said he believes this is a “natural extension of messaging services.” Cathcart emphasized that WhatsApp won’t force users who prefer not to see advertisements to do so.

Ads do not affect your chats with friends

Meta and WhatsApp have assured users that ads will not impact their chats with friends and loved ones. There’s no change to your messaging experience at all. Furthermore, WhatsApp said that it “will never sell or share your phone number to advertisers. Your personal messages, calls, and groups you are in will not be used to determine the ads you may see.”

As for the ads you’ll see, WhatsApp says that it will use limited information like country or city, language, the Channels you follow, and how you interact with the ads you see to show you relevant adverts. Furthermore, if you’ve chosen to add WhatsApp to Accounts Center, then the app will also use your ad choices and info from across your Meta accounts, including Facebook and Instagram.

WhatsApp has started to roll out a new update to bring advertisements to the Updates tab. The company is rolling out this update to both Android and iOS platforms.