Watch out WhatsApp users, ads are coming!
WhatsApp is trying to help users find more channels and businesses using ads |
Image credit: WhatsApp
Channel subscriptions : You'll be able to support your favorite channel by subscribing to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee.
: You'll be able to support your favorite channel by subscribing to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee. Promoted Channels : We'll help you discover new channels that might be interesting to you when you're looking through the directory. For the first time, admins have a way to increase their Channel's visibility.
: We'll help you discover new channels that might be interesting to you when you're looking through the directory. For the first time, admins have a way to increase their Channel's visibility.
Ads in Status : You'll be able to find a new business and easily start a conversation with them about a product or service they're promoting in Status.
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Ads will only be displayed on the Updates tab at first |
Image credit: WhatsApp
As far as the ads go, WhatsApp says that it will use limited info like country or city, language, the Channels the user is following, and how they interact with the ads they see, in order to serve them ads that might be of interest to them.
Besides that, WhatsApp mentions that for those who have chosen to add WhatsApp to Accounts Center, it will use their ad preferences and info from across their Meta accounts.
For security reasons, WhatsApp will not sell or share users' phone numbers to advertisers. Also, the messaging app says it will not use your personal messages, calls and groups you are in to determine the ads you may see.
At first glance, this doesn't seem so bad for those who only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and family, but it does look like the first step toward a more aggressive implementation of ads.
As far as the ads go, WhatsApp says that it will use limited info like country or city, language, the Channels the user is following, and how they interact with the ads they see, in order to serve them ads that might be of interest to them.Besides that, WhatsApp mentions that for those who have chosen to add WhatsApp to Accounts Center, it will use their ad preferences and info from across their Meta accounts.For security reasons, WhatsApp will not sell or share users' phone numbers to advertisers. Also, the messaging app says it will not use your personal messages, calls and groups you are in to determine the ads you may see.At first glance, this doesn't seem so bad for those who only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and family, but it does look like the first step toward a more aggressive implementation of ads.
WhatsApp was probably one of the few messaging apps that didn't serve its users ads, but that's about to change. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has just announced that the messaging app will start showing ads in Status and Channels, but not on any of your personal chats.In a blog post highlighting the latest changes coming to WhatsApp, the messaging app reveals important new features for the Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status. According to WhatsApp, these changes are meant 'to help admins, organizations, and businesses grow on WhatsApp.'That said, if you're not using the Updates tab in any way, you will not be affected by these changes (hopefully!). But if you do, here is what the latest update will add to the app in the coming days:Once again, these new features will only be visible on the Updates tab, so if you're just using WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones, there's obviously no change to your experience at all.
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