Yes, WhatsApp Is Getting Ads—But It’s Not as Bad as You Think
Meta is introducing three new features to WhatsApp: Channel subscriptions, Promoted channels, and Ads. But fret not if you’re worried about getting bombarded with Temu ads while texting through a breakup—these features will be confined to the Updates tab.
So if you mainly use WhatsApp to chat with friends or in group chats, your usual experience won’t be affected.
In a bid to monetise parts of the platform without disrupting its core function, Meta also emphasised a commitment to privacy, stating that they’ve “built these features in the most privacy-oriented way possible.” The company confirmed that personal messages, calls, and statuses will remain end-to-end encrypted.
The new Channel subscriptions feature will allow users to subscribe to select channels, such as news outlets or interest-based pages, for a monthly fee. These subscriptions will likely include exclusive content not available to non-subscribers. Meanwhile, Promoted channels will appear through an “Explore” section in the app, helping users discover new content and communities to follow.
Ads will also begin to appear in WhatsApp, which will appear in between Statuses similar to how ads appear in between Stories on Instagram. This means users scrolling through updates may now see ads placed by businesses, much like Instagram Stories ads.
Meta states that the ads shown will be based on limited details such as your country, city, language, and the Channels you follow. If you’ve connected your WhatsApp to Meta’s Accounts Center, the company may use preferences and ad-related information from your Facebook and Instagram profiles as well.
Meta clarified that your phone number will not be shared with advertisers. Additionally, your private messages, calls, and group activity will not influence the ads you see.
Source: [1] Meta
