Meta has announced that it will begin rolling out ads on WhatsApp soon, but only in the chatting app’s “Updates” tab for now. This section, which includes Channels and Status updates, is currently used by 1.5 billion users daily.
According to Meta, users will start seeing ads in the Status section, which shows short photos and video updates, allowing businesses to promote products and reach customers through WhatsApp. Additionally, a new feature called “Promoted Channels” will highlight suggested Channels within the Updates directory, based on user preferences and behavior.
This is the very first time WhatsApp is getting ads, which has long marketed itself as an ad-free, privacy-focused platform.
Alongside advertisements, Meta is introducing paid Channel subscriptions. Users will be able to pay a monthly fee to access exclusive content from specific Channels. This is designed to support creators and organizations that want to monetize their broadcasts.
Meta emphasized that these monetization efforts will not affect direct messages. The company stated that direct messages, calls, and group chats will remain end-to-end encrypted and free of ads.
How Ad Targeting Will Work
To personalize ad delivery, WhatsApp will use non-personal identifiers such as users’ country, city, language, followed by Channels, and engagement with promotional content. For users connected to the Meta Accounts Center, additional data from Facebook and Instagram may be added for ad targeting.
Meta assured users that phone numbers and private messages will not be shared with advertisers or used to generate ads. These features are expected to roll out gradually over the coming months.
Ads that’s tech now 😂 companies have lost all credibility . Begging ad agencies
Digital spying