WhatsApp, the globally popular messaging app under Meta's umbrella, is preparing to introduce a significant update that will transform user experience. The platform is officially integrating advertisements into the Updates tab, a move that may not sit well with all users but is seen as essential for long-term sustainability.
Currently, the Updates section includes Channels and Status posts and is visited daily by over 1.5 billion users. To monetize this traffic, WhatsApp is adding three new features:
- Channel Subscriptions: Users can now financially support their favorite creators by subscribing to exclusive updates for a monthly fee, opening up a new revenue stream for content creators.
- Suggested Channels: A recommendation system will introduce users to new, potentially interesting channels. This will help channel managers increase their visibility and audience reach.
- Ads in Status: Users will soon be able to discover new businesses through Status updates and initiate conversations directly from these promotional posts.
Importantly, all of these changes are confined to the Updates tab. Private chats, group conversations, and voice calls remain unaffected, ensuring that the core messaging experience remains uninterrupted.
With this update, WhatsApp clearly signals its evolution from a pure messaging platform into a more dynamic social-media-like ecosystem.