WhatsApp is introducing new features to its Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status, including:
- Channel Subscriptions – users can now support channels with paid subscriptions to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee.
- Promoted Channels – admins can now boost their Channel's visibility in the directory with paid placement.
- Ads in Status – brands can now purchase advertisements in Status updates, similar to how ads appear within Facebook and Instagram Stories.
It's great timing, because just this morning I woke up and thought to my self, “My WhatsApp could sure use some ads!”
Meta says the ads in Status and Channels will use limited info like your country, city, and language, as well as the Channels you're following and how you interact with other ads, but it will never use your personal messages, calls, or groups to determine what ads you see.
The company also stressed that it will never share your phone number with advertisers — which why would they give up that valuable asset when they can instead perpetually charge advertisers to reach you via WhatsApp instead?
Over 1.5B people are currently using the Status and Channels features every day, according to Meta. It describes the move as a “natural progression”, despite the criticism that the injected ads will inevitable draw.
The embracement of ads is quite the change from the company's original mission, which you can read about in a 2012 blog post from the original founders entitled Why we don't sell ads. However, it was all but guaranteed when an advertising company acquires you.