WhatsApp's New Money-Making Move: Ads Are Coming

WhatsApp, a messaging app that has been around since 2009, is finally joining the advertising game. This change is happening slowly, with ads first appearing in the Updates tab. This tab is where users can share status updates, join groups, or follow channels based on their interests. The idea is to keep ads separate from personal chats, so users won't be bothered while talking to friends or family. Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, says that 1. 5 billion people use the Updates tab every day. So, there's a huge audience for these ads. But if you only use WhatsApp for one-on-one chats or small group conversations, you might never see an ad. It's a clever way to introduce ads without annoying everyone. There are three types of ads coming to WhatsApp. First, there are ads in the Status section, where users share photos, videos, or short messages that disappear after 24 hours. Now, users will also see ads from companies mixed in with their friends' updates. They can even message the companies directly from the app. Second, there are Promoted Channels. This is a new way for channel admins to get more visibility. If a channel wants more followers, it can pay to be promoted in the Updates tab. Lastly, WhatsApp is allowing advertisers to charge users a monthly fee for exclusive updates. For example, a cooking channel could charge users for new recipe alerts. It's like a subscription service, but within the app. This could be a good way for users to support their favorite channels, but it could also lead to a lot of spam if not managed properly. To decide which ads users see, WhatsApp will use information like the user's country, age, language settings, and general location. This is a bit concerning, as it means WhatsApp is tracking more about its users. It's important for users to be aware of this and decide if they're comfortable with it. WhatsApp has always been about private, secure messaging. But with these changes, it's clear that the app is looking for new ways to make money. It will be interesting to see how users react to these ads and if they change the way people use WhatsApp.