Monetization That (Still) Respects Privacy

The world's largest chat application has finally taken a step that many users might not welcome with open arms. WhatsApp, used by over 3 billion people monthly, is going to start displaying ads. And that's not all – premium channels with paid content are also being tested.

Ads will appear exclusively between status updates (akin to Instagram Stories), not within private chats. If you don't use this section at all, there's no need to worry – you won't see the ads. Meta aims to accommodate businesses that already use WhatsApp as a communication tool – there are more than 200 million of them.

The company also assures that even with these new changes, privacy protection will remain a priority. Messages and calls will continue to be encrypted, and ads will not be targeted based on communication content. Algorithms will rely solely on basic data, such as device language, location, and interactions with public channels.

Introducing Paid Channels

In addition to ads, WhatsApp plans to introduce premium channels – a subscription model that allows creators or smaller brands to offer exclusive content. This will also give them greater visibility on the platform.

For the app itself, this marks a significant shift. Until recently, the founders resisted any form of ads – the slogan "No ads, no games, no gimmicks" was iconic. However, Meta now claims it has found a balance between monetization and preserving the user experience.