Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp could soon introduce ads. Although the company doesn’t intend to display ads in the primary inbox, it could incorporate ads in the Status feature and channels.
During an interview with Brazilian media, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart stated that the company has no intentions of displaying advertisements within the main inbox. However, he indicated that the company could show ads in other locations within the app, reports TechCrunch.
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In September, Cathcart denied a report by the Financial Times that suggested the Meta-owned instant messaging application would display ads. When speaking to Brazilian media, he stated that showing ads in the inbox is not the right model.
Also read: WhatsApp will soon let you login through email: Here’s how
“The reason I qualified [sic] the answer is that there could be ads in other places — channels or status. For example, channels might charge people to subscribe, they might be exclusive to paid members or the owners might want to promote the channel. But, no, we won’t put ads in your inbox,” Cathcart said.
WhatsApp had discussed the idea of placing ads in its “Status” feature a few years ago, but it was never implemented. While Cathcart mentioned it as a possibility, there has been no actual rollout of such ads.
Up to this point, WhatsApp, with its user base exceeding 2 billion people worldwide, has primarily relied on its business messaging services and click-to-WhatsApp ads on platforms like Facebook for generating revenue.
Recently, WhatsApp announced passkey support on Android. Passkeys on WhatsApp are a new, highly secure method for Android users to regain access to their accounts. Passkeys on WhatsApp allow users to sign in to their accounts the same way they unlock their devices: with a fingerprint, a face scan or a PIN.
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