CALIFORNIA (Kashmir English): WhatsApp has introduced new monetization features targeting businesses and content creators, embedding tools directly into its “Updates” tab.
The update comes as part of Meta’s plan to build new revenue streams across messaging platforms. The new features will be available exclusively in the Updates section, which includes both Status and Channels, ensuring that user chats remain unaffected.
“Today we’re introducing some new features for our Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status,” WhatsApp stated, emphasizing that these changes will not impact private messaging.
Notable features include Channel Subscription, enabling creators to get financially supported by their beloved creators with regular payments for unique content.
Promoted Channels will also benefit creators and companies with increased exposure in the form of being suggested channels in the directory, helping discoverability for small businesses and new creators.
WhatsApp is also entering the advertising space with the addition of Ads in Status, its very first direct advertising feature within the stories-style content of the app.
Companies can advertise in the Status section with the aim of increasing engagement with users and improving conversions via direct messaging.
In responding to privacy issues, WhatsApp explained that ad targeting will make use of limited signals like user location, language, and activity in the Updates tab.
Those who connect their accounts to Meta’s ecosystem will be able to see ads based on their Facebook and Instagram activity.
Even with all the changes, WhatsApp assured people that it was still dedicated to privacy. “Just like everything we do at WhatsApp, we’ve designed these features in the most private way possible,” the company said, emphasizing that individuals’ messages, group chats, and calls will still be secured by end-to-end encryption, and that users’ phone numbers as well as their private messages will not be made accessible to advertisers.
