WhatsApp relies on advertising: What does that mean for users?

WhatsApp relies on advertising: What does that mean for users?

Vienna, Österreich - WhatsApp has announced that it will integrate advertising into its app in the near future. This development will be visible in the "Current" section, where users can access subscribed channels and status ads of other contacts. This marks a significant step, since WhatsApp has so far remained ad -free, in contrast to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. The company has been part of the meta group since 2014 and was taken over for $ 19 billion about ten years ago. Every month, more than two billion people worldwide use the app.

For users who use WhatsApp exclusively for private conversations, nothing will change by introducing advertising. Nikila Srinivasan from Meta emphasizes that personal messages, calls and status reports will continue to be encrypted in the future and that no telephone numbers are sold to advertisers or personal data is used for advertising.

Details on advertising

The advertisements in the "News" riders should be based on basic information, such as the state, the city, the language of the device and the activities within the tab. However, a specific schedule for the introduction of advertising was not announced; The measures are expected to be implemented gradually over the coming months. Despite this announcement, WhatsApp rejected reports on planned advertisements in 2023, which shows how sensitive the topic is handled.

The introduction of advertising is considered a delicate, since many users could possibly feel uncomfortable if their experiences are interrupted by advertising. In the past, similar concerns have also been expressed in connection with other platforms.

assessment of other platforms

Interesting is the comparison to the messaging app threads, which was introduced by Facebook in October 2019. While WhatsApp is preparing for the integration of advertising, Threads initially remains ad -free. This platform was developed to offer a private and intimate messaging experience, and the use of advertising could interfere with this experience and deter users. Current information confirms that threads will initially do not switch advertising, in contrast to other Facebook platforms such as Messenger and Instagram.

threads could consider alternative monetization strategies such as sponsored content or partnerships in order to keep the focus on a positive user experience. Facebook is known for the implementation of various monetization strategies, so the future development of advertising in threads remains an exciting topic.

Overall, it shows that both platforms - WhatsApp and threads - face the challenge of finding the balance between monetization and user experience. The changes in WhatsApp could represent a turning point, while threads maintain his strategy of the freedom of advertising for the time being so as not to unsettle users.

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