What to know
- WhatsApp introduces ads in status and channels as a part of a major monetization push.
- Ads are visible between statuses and in channels.
- Meta seeks to help users discover new creators and businesses with the update.
- Users can manage ad preferences, but they cannot be fully turned off.
WhatsApp has now started showing ads in the status and channels. The messaging giant stood apart for years for its clean and ad-free approach. But it looks like the difference is going away.
Meta has introduced one of the most significant monetisation tries, with the introduction of ads in WhatsApp status and channels. The move has raised concerns among the users regarding the future workaround of the app.
As per Meta, it is an effort to help users discover creators and new businesses without getting in the way of private conversations. This new rollout is gradually taking place, with some users still not seeing any ads in the Updates tab.
You should note that the personal chats and calls are not affected by this change. Ads are appearing in channels and between status updates.
If your WhatsApp use is solely for private messaging, calls, and group chats, your app interaction will remain the same. It is done to preserve the core purpose of the app, being a private messenger.
WhatsApp also encrypts personal chats and calls to address the privacy issues. The user's personal data will not be used for providing location-specific ads. Users have expressed their frustrations in forum discussions, with many stating to uninstall the app and move to alternatives like Signal.
While you cannot turn off the ads completely, you can manage your ad experience. WhatsApp has clearly labelled the ads, and you can also report them.
If you want to manage your ad preferences, you can do so by going to Settings > Accounts Centre > Account settings > Ad preferences. You can hide the Status ads via the three-dot menu and Channel ads from the Sponsored label.
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