WhatsApp Chief Reveals How Ads Could Enhance User Experience

WhatsApp has categorically denied bringing ads to the main chat window for its users, but that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t have other places it can put ads. And this week Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, has hinted at these other places where users might start seeing ads in the near future.

Cathcart was recently quoted in a report talking about running ads in other places. He even pointed out that WhatsApp didn’t think placing ads on the messaging app’s main chat screen was the right model. He then suggested that WhatsApp could display ads in Status or even in the newly launched Channels feature.

WhatsApp has not started testing ads in Status mode, as Meta confirms in this report. That said, it’s hardly surprising to hear Cathcart talk about advertising on WhatsApp and the possible ways they could offer it. Status on WhatsApp is like Stories is Instagram that allows you to share your location or your feelings through this feature.

The channels are tuned more towards the marketing side, allowing celebrities to set up channels on WhatsApp and have members sign up for exclusive access to various news, updates and more. WhatsApp channels are a clear opportunity for further monetization of WhatsApp, and Meta and Co. are really keen to promote this especially with over a billion daily active users. WhatsApp launched the full Business version to encourage companies to interact with their customers, for which they only need their mobile number.

But Meta wants more from WhatsApp, and it looks like Mark Zuckerberg and Co. are considering this new strategy as the next possible revenue option for the popular messaging app. Bringing in ads is hardly a hit among users, but Meta is more focused on collecting revenue from its business, which also includes Instagram and Facebook.

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