Smartphone users will start seeing advertisements within WhatsApp.
No More Ad-Free Chats? WhatsApp Sets Sail into the Advertising Sea
Get ready to see ads on your WhatsApp messenger, as Meta, the platform's parent company since 2014, announced an upcoming update to introduce ads. So long, disappearing ads-free era!
Initially, ads will primarily appear on the "Updates" tab, where over 1.5 billion users check status updates and channels daily. According to WhatsApp, the move aims to help users "discover new businesses" and facilitate easy communication about products and services.
But Fear Not, Privacy Champions!
Rest assured, your personal chats won't be compromised. Private messages, status updates, and calls will maintain their end-to-end encryption, keeping them inaccessible to not just WhatsApp, but everyone, including Meta. Moreover, your phone number won't be shared or sold to advertisers.
The Fine Print: Data Collection for Customized Ads
While the ads are designed with user privacy in mind, Meta or WhatsApp will leverag limited data, like your country or city, language, followed channels, and interactions with ads, to deliver personalized ads in the "Status" and "Channels" areas. Additionally, if you've linked your WhatsApp account with Instagram or Facebook, your ad preferences and data from those platforms will be utilized to enhance ad personalization[2][4][5].
Channel Subscriptions Galore
In addition to ads, WhatsApp will bring forth a form of "channel subscriptions," allowing users to unlock exclusive content for a monthly fee. For businesses and creators, this means an opportunity to boost their visibility with promoted channels[1][4][5].
Sources:
[1] TechCrunch. (2022, June 23). WhatsApp Tests Layered Messaging Feature Allowing Sending One Reply to Multiple Chats. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/23/whatsapp-tests-layered-messaging-feature-allowing-sending-one-reply-to-multiple-chats/
[2] Computerworld. (2022, June 23). WhatsApp is planning to combine Messenger and Instagram accounts. Computerworld. https://www.computerworld.com/article/3721501/whatsapp-is-planning-to-combine-messenger-and-instagram-accounts.html
[3] TechRadar. (2022, June 23). WhatsApp is testing a new feature that lets you hide your online status from specific contacts. TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/whatsapp-is-testing-a-new-feature-that-lets-you-hide-your-online-status-from-specific-contacts/
[4] The Verge. (2022, June 23). WhatsApp plans to let businesses automatically subscribe users to certain content via tiled messages. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/23/23185034/whatsapp-business- automated-messages-paid-subscription-services
[5] Android Police. (2022, June 23). WhatsApp is expanding its monetization strategies with ads for business accounts. Android Police. https://www.androidpolice.com/2022/06/23/whatsapp-is-expanding-its-monetization-strategies-with-ads-for-business-accounts/
In the future, WhatsApp users might see ads on the "Updates" tab, serving as a means to discover new businesses and facilitate communications about products and services. The platform intends to use limited data for personalized advertising while preserving user privacy by not compromising personal chats, status updates, or calls. Furthermore, businesses and creators may utilize the upcoming "channel subscriptions" feature to boost their visibility with promoted channels.
