It’s official: ads are coming to WhatsApp. Depending on how you use this widely popular messaging app, you might never encounter one.
Following the recent launch of a dedicated WhatsApp iPad app, WhatsApp has confirmed the rollout of ads on its platform, accompanied by additional features aimed at businesses and channels.
This decision by Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, might come as a surprise, especially considering the co-founder’s previous commitment against introducing ads.
All new features are centered around the Updates tab in WhatsApp, ensuring that your regular chats should remain unaffected.
What is the New WhatsApp Ad Feature?
WhatsApp is set to launch three new revenue-generating features, with the standout being ‘Ads in Status.’ For casual users, this update will enhance the existing Status function, which allows you to share temporary updates—such as photos, videos, and text—that disappear after 24 hours.
With the introduction of Ads in Status, you may see ads while viewing updates from friends or family. If this sounds familiar, it mirrors a similar feature already in place on Instagram.
WhatsApp will use limited data to deliver more relevant ads. The app states, “we’ll use limited info like your country or city, language, the Channels you’re following, and how you interact with the ads you see.”
The other two features include Channel subscriptions and Promoted Channels. Channel subscriptions allow you to pay a monthly fee for exclusive updates from favorite channels, enhancing the overall user experience. Promoted Channels enable owners to boost their visibility, surfacing potentially interesting channels to users.
When Will I Start Seeing Ads on WhatsApp?
According to Meta, these updates will be slowly rolled out globally over the next several months. This means you might not see changes to the Updates tab immediately.
These features will be introduced through an app update, so if you’d like to delay this change, consider turning off auto-updates on your device. However, there will come a point where updating the app becomes necessary for continued functionality.
When asked how they plan to use the additional revenue from these features, a Meta spokesperson indicated it would be reinvested to support further development based on user needs.
How Can I Avoid Ads on WhatsApp?
While there’s no way to turn ads off, you can avoid them entirely by sticking to the ‘Chats’ tab within the app. Currently, WhatsApp has confined these new features to the Updates tab, ensuring you won’t see ads unless you actively navigate there.
How Do I Uninstall WhatsApp?
If you’re not pleased with WhatsApp’s direction, you have the option to uninstall the app. Before doing so, make sure to delete your account first.
Be aware that deleting your account is irreversible. According to WhatsApp, it will:
- Remove your account from WhatsApp on all devices
- Erase your message history
- Remove you from all WhatsApp groups
- Delete your Google Account backup
- Remove you as a channel admin or follower without deleting any of your updates or interactions
- Delete channels you created, assuming there are no additional admins
To delete your account, open WhatsApp and navigate to Settings > Account > Delete My Account, then follow the on-screen prompts. Once that’s done, you can proceed with your device’s standard app uninstall process.
Feeling uneasy about the future of WhatsApp? You’re not alone. It’s essential to stay informed about how updates affect your user experience. If you wish to learn more about this or related topics, consider exploring more articles at Moyens I/O.