WhatsApp is trying out ads to make money like its parent company Facebook does. Some users who test new features first are seeing these changes now.
Soon you might see small ads when you check your friends’ Status updates. These ads will appear between your friends’ photos and videos. Each ad will say “sponsored” so you know it’s not from someone you know. If you don’t like an ad, you can tap to block that company completely.
Businesses can now pay to make their WhatsApp Channels easier to find. When you search for Channels, the paid ones will show up first with a “sponsored” tag. This helps shops, brands and creators get more followers.
The good news is ads won’t appear in your private chats. WhatsApp promises your personal messages will stay clean with no ads. Only public areas like Status and Channels will show ads.
WhatsApp is also working on a way for you to see all ads you’ve viewed. You could check which companies showed you ads and when. This makes things more clear than other apps.
These changes help WhatsApp earn money while keeping users happy. The app needs to make money but doesn’t want to upset people with too many ads. They’re starting small by testing with some users first.
If the tests go well, everyone might see these ads soon. WhatsApp wants to copy Facebook’s success with ads but do it carefully. They’re trying to find the right balance between business needs and user experience.
Regular users don’t need to worry yet – these changes are only visible to testers for now. WhatsApp will watch how people react before deciding if the ads work well enough for everyone.
The company says they’ll keep listening to user feedback. They want to make sure any ads feel natural and not annoying. Your private conversations will always remain ad-free no matter what changes come.