WhatsApp to Embark on a New Era: Advertisements Ahead!
Messenger to Showcase Advertisements in the Coming Days - Messenger Introduces Advertisements Integration
TheOnce ad-free haven of WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, is about to undergo a monumental change. In a surprising announcement, Meta Platforms, the company that has owned WhatsApp since 2014, has declared their intention to introduce advertisements on the platform. So far, WhatsApp has pridefully remained a sanctuary free from the clutches of ads.
Initially, these advertisements will pop up in the "Update" section. This tab, habitually visited by approximately 1.5 billion users daily, houses status updates, channels, and more. Meta promotes these ads enthusiastically in a blog post by saying, "Discover new businesses and have seamless conversations with them regarding products and services they promote in their status!"
What's the Deal?
Despite the introduction of advertisements, it is reassuring that there will be no changes for those who rely solely on personal chats. Encrypted personal messages, updates, and calls will continue to remain off-limits to both WhatsApp and any potential eavesdroppers. And as for your phone number, it will be safe - it certainly won't be shared or sold to pesky marketers.
That being said, Meta or WhatsApp will use your precious data to show you "interesting ads" in the "Status" and "Channels" sections. They'll use data such as country, language, followed channels, interactions with ads, and for those who have linked their WhatsApp account with Instagram or Facebook, even more data! The blog states, "For people who have opted to integrate WhatsApp with their account overview, we'll also use their ad preferences and ad information from their other Meta accounts."
In the not-so-distant future, there will be a novel concept called "channel subscriptions." Subscribing to these channels will grant you access to exclusive content for a monthly fee. And if that wasn't enough, individual channels can also be promoted. According to reports from "TechCrunch" and others, WhatsApp plans to unwrap these alterations worldwide in the upcoming months.
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- Meta Platforms, the company that owns WhatsApp, revealed their plans to introduce advertisements on the popular messaging app, marking a significant change for a platform that has previously been ad-free.
- In the near future, WhatsApp users might encounter ads in the "Update" section, as well as in the "Status" and "Channels" sections, where they may see ads tailored to their interests based on their country, language, followed channels, interactions with ads, and data from linked Instagram or Facebook accounts.
- According to reports, WhatsApp is also planning to introduce a new feature called "channel subscriptions," allowing users to access exclusive content for a monthly fee, and promoting individual channels worldwide within the upcoming months.
