Bittu Kumar
Meta has now decided to start showing ads in WhatsApp. So far WhatsApp was an app where users got only chatting and calling experience without any promotion. But now this is going to change. The company has said that ads will be shown only in the Status / Updates tab, that is, the same place where people see friends' stories. This feature will be similar to Instagram Stories Ads, which will give brands a chance to reach more users.
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Will Ads Affect WhatsApp Chats and Privacy?
The company has clarified that ads will not have any effect on your personal chats, calls and media, because all these are completely protected with end-to-end encryption. Ads will only appear in places that are already public such as the Status tab. The company also said that your WhatsApp messages will not be read for targeting. Instead, your language, location and activity on Instagram / Facebook will be used.
New Growth Opportunities for Brands on WhatsApp
This decision of Meta will give companies an even bigger opportunity to use WhatsApp as a business platform. Now brands will be able to talk directly to customers using features like “Click to WhatsApp” through Meta Ads Manager. In countries like India, where WhatsApp is already used by crores of people, small merchants will get a big benefit from this.
Mixed Reactions from Users and Privacy Experts
While some people are considering it as a way of better connectivity, many users are worried that this may end the privacy and simplicity of WhatsApp. Organizations related to data privacy in Europe and America have started questioning this decision. Many people believe that WhatsApp should have always been ad-free.
Also read: Xiaomi Devices Are Getting HyperOS 2.2 in the Next 7 Days – Is Yours on the List?
Final Words
The decision to bring ads in WhatsApp is a new source of income for Meta, but time will tell how much it will affect the experience and trust of users.
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