HomeWhatsApp to Introduce Advertising
WhatsApp is introducing advertisements. In an announcement made on Monday, Meta stated that it will begin displaying ads from businesses within the status feature, which functions similarly to Stories.
This status feature is located within the "Updates" tab of WhatsApp, enabling users to share text, photos, voice notes, or video messages that disappear after a set time. However, users may now encounter sponsored posts alongside updates from their contacts.
For several years, Meta has contemplated integrating ads into WhatsApp, a concept its original founders strongly opposed. While Meta shelved initial plans for in-app ads in 2020, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart confirmed in 2023 that development was ongoing. Last year, Meta generated over $160 billion in ad revenue.
GIF: MetaAccording to Meta, these ads will be personalized based on limited user data, such as country, city, language, followed channels, and interactions with platform ads. Users connected to the Meta Accounts Center can adjust their ad preferences there.
"For years, we've discussed building a business model that doesn't interfere with private conversations. We believe the Updates tab is the appropriate space for these new features," Meta explained in its announcement. The company emphasized it "will never sell or share your phone number with advertisers" and confirmed that personal messages, calls, or group chats are not used for ad targeting.
Ads are not the only update coming to WhatsApp. When users click the Explore button to find new channels, they will also see promoted suggestions. Furthermore, a new subscription feature is being rolled out, allowing users to follow channels for exclusive updates.
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Comments (3)
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![NicholasRoberts]()
Ugh, really? WhatsApp was the last safe haven from ads. Now Meta’s gonna ruin it with sponsored statuses. Guess it’s time to switch to Signal or Telegram 🙄
![JuanAdams]()
Ça y est, la pub débarque même sur WhatsApp... Meta ne rate vraiment aucune occasion de monétiser ses plateformes, hein ? 😅 Pour moi, c'est décevant car la force de WhatsApp était justement de ne pas en avoir. J'espère que les publicités resteront discrètes et optionnelles, sinon ça va vite devenir énervant.
![GaryJones]()
Ads in WhatsApp status? Seriously? 😬 I already mute stories from half my contacts, now I gotta scroll past sponsored content too. Meta really can't resist monetizing every single pixel they own. The slippery slope from 'simple messaging app' to ad-infested feed feels so predictable at this point.
WhatsApp is introducing advertisements. In an announcement made on Monday, Meta stated that it will begin displaying ads from businesses within the status feature, which functions similarly to Stories.
This status feature is located within the "Updates" tab of WhatsApp, enabling users to share text, photos, voice notes, or video messages that disappear after a set time. However, users may now encounter sponsored posts alongside updates from their contacts.
For several years, Meta has contemplated integrating ads into WhatsApp, a concept its original founders strongly opposed. While Meta shelved initial plans for in-app ads in 2020, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart confirmed in 2023 that development was ongoing. Last year, Meta generated over $160 billion in ad revenue.
GIF: MetaAccording to Meta, these ads will be personalized based on limited user data, such as country, city, language, followed channels, and interactions with platform ads. Users connected to the Meta Accounts Center can adjust their ad preferences there.
"For years, we've discussed building a business model that doesn't interfere with private conversations. We believe the Updates tab is the appropriate space for these new features," Meta explained in its announcement. The company emphasized it "will never sell or share your phone number with advertisers" and confirmed that personal messages, calls, or group chats are not used for ad targeting.
Ads are not the only update coming to WhatsApp. When users click the Explore button to find new channels, they will also see promoted suggestions. Furthermore, a new subscription feature is being rolled out, allowing users to follow channels for exclusive updates.
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Ugh, really? WhatsApp was the last safe haven from ads. Now Meta’s gonna ruin it with sponsored statuses. Guess it’s time to switch to Signal or Telegram 🙄
Ça y est, la pub débarque même sur WhatsApp... Meta ne rate vraiment aucune occasion de monétiser ses plateformes, hein ? 😅 Pour moi, c'est décevant car la force de WhatsApp était justement de ne pas en avoir. J'espère que les publicités resteront discrètes et optionnelles, sinon ça va vite devenir énervant.
Ads in WhatsApp status? Seriously? 😬 I already mute stories from half my contacts, now I gotta scroll past sponsored content too. Meta really can't resist monetizing every single pixel they own. The slippery slope from 'simple messaging app' to ad-infested feed feels so predictable at this point.
