ISLAMABAD: WhatsApp has announced new monetization features aimed at businesses and content creators, integrating the tools directly into its “Updates” tab. The update is part of Meta’s strategy to create new revenue streams across its messaging platforms.
The new features will be available exclusively in the Updates section, which includes both Status and Channels, ensuring that user chats are not affected. “Today we’re introducing some new features for our Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status,” WhatsApp said, emphasizing that the changes will not affect private messaging.
Key features include Channel Subscriptions, which allows users to financially support their favorite creators through monthly payments for exclusive content. Additionally, promoted channels will enable creators and businesses to increase their visibility by appearing as recommended channels in the directory, helping to drive discovery for emerging creators and small businesses.
WhatsApp is also moving into advertising with the integration of ads into Status, marking its first direct advertising effort within the app’s Stories-style content. Businesses can place ads in the Status section, aiming to increase user engagement and drive conversions through direct messaging.
To address privacy concerns, WhatsApp clarified that ad targeting will use limited signals, such as a user’s location, language, and interactions in the Updates tab. Users who connect their accounts to Meta’s ecosystem can see ads informed by their activity on Facebook and Instagram.
Despite these changes, WhatsApp assured users of its commitment to privacy. “Like everything we do on WhatsApp, we built these features to be as private as possible,” the company said, confirming that personal messages, group chats, and calls will be protected by end-to-end encryption, and that users’ phone numbers and private messages will not be shared with advertisers.
