WhatsApp introduces paid subscriptions: users have to pay!

WhatsApp introduces paid subscriptions: users have to pay!

WhatsApp, the popular messaging service with around 1.5 billion daily users, announced a fundamental change to its business model on June 16th. These innovations are aimed at opening up new sources of income. This includes scheduled advertising and paid subscriptions that users can expect in the What's New section. The step to also display commercial content in the future represents a turning point in the previously ad-free use of the app.

The new What's New tab, visited by millions of people worldwide every day, allows users to subscribe to channels for a fee to gain access to exclusive content and early information. Channel operators have the freedom to set their own prices, although WhatsApp will keep around ten percent of the revenue. Companies can also place targeted advertising in the status area of ​​the service.

New monetization strategies

Companies and clubs can use the new functions in the “News” area to effectively advertise their products or services. While personal chats, calls and voice messages remain free, advertising is only displayed in the “News” section. This area is clearly separated from the personal communication area to ensure that data protection remains unaffected. WhatsApp sees the introduction of advertising as a way to establish a viable business model after discontinuing its original annual subscription model in 2016.

The strategic decision to introduce advertising is no coincidence. For a while, WhatsApp did not have a comprehensible financing model. With the addition of paid subscriptions and a clear separation between advertising and personal use, the company aims to create a balance between commercial and private content without compromising the user experience.

Data protection and user behavior

Data protection remains a central concern of WhatsApp. The Company does not sell telephone numbers or share personal information with third parties. The advertisements are only based on limited information, such as country, city and language, and linked meta services may also include interests from Facebook or Instagram. These measures are intended to ensure that users' trust in the platform is maintained, which is also an important communication tool for individuals and companies.

WhatsApp has grown steadily since it was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. Previously known as a paid service, the app was acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2014 for about $19 billion. This acquisition brought significant changes, including the introduction of voice calling and end-to-end encryption. The company now aims to adapt to the modern digital landscape with a new business model and meet the increasing demands of its users.

The developments at WhatsApp show a clear tendency to distinguish itself in an ever-changing market without losing sight of the core functions that make the service so popular. “News” will become a key area for monetization, while personal interaction will always remain at the forefront.