Ads on the Way? WhatsApp Head Reveals New Possibilities!
WhatsApp has recently been experimenting with various new features that may soon be introduced to the platform. One of these features allows users to create alternate profiles, as revealed a few days ago. Additionally, there are reports suggesting that WhatsApp Channel is either developing or testing new voice messages and sticker features. These additions aim to improve the overall user experience on the platform. However, these efforts may be in vain, as a WhatsApp official has recently announced the possibility of displaying ads in Status. Let’s examine this further.
Ads on WhatsApp
For years, WhatsApp has been noncommittal when it comes to advertising on its platform. But a recent interview with WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart may have just revealed the platform’s plans for advertising. In an interview with the Brazilian publication (via TechCrunch ), Cathcart said that WhatsApp doesn’t show ads in the inbox, but they can appear in other places, like status or channels.
“Ads can be in other places – in channels or space. For example, channels may charge people to subscribe, they may be paid members only, or the owners may want to advertise the channel. But no, we don’t put ads in your inbox,” Cathcart said.
Interestingly, in September, Cathcart had directly denied claims made in a Financial Times report that WhatsApp could put ads on the chat screen. “This @FT story is false. We’re not doing this,” the WhatsApp head wrote to X.
It’s important to note that while Cathcart may have hinted at ads possibly appearing in WhatsApp’s Status or Channels section, that’s no confirmation that they’ll actually arrive. In 2019, WhatsApp tested ads in the Status section of its beta version of the app, but it never made it to the public version.
New features in WhatsApp
WhatsApp has recently introduced a lot of new features for users. Just a few months ago, the instant messaging platform finally brought a feature that lets you share photos and videos in HD resolution, and at the same time, it rolled out another feature that lets you link a single WhatsApp account across multiple devices. Taking steps towards a password-free future, it now also allows you to log into the app with a password instead of the traditional 2-step authentication.
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