WhatsApp Chief Says They Could Bring Ads Through These Features For Users – News18

WhatsApp has categorically denied that it will bring ads to the main chat window for its users but that doesn’t mean the company won’t have other places where it can put ads. And this week, Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp has hinted at these other places where users might start seeing ads in the near future.

Cathcart was quoted in a report recently, where he talked about showing ads in other places. He even pointed out that WhatsApp didn’t feel that putting ads in the main chat screen of the messaging app is the right model. He then went on to suggest that WhatsApp could show ads in Status or even the recently launched feature called Channels.

WhatsApp hasn’t started testing ads in Status, as confirmed by Meta in this report. Having said that, it is hardly surprising to hear Cathcart talk about ads on WhatsApp and the possible avenues where they could offer it. Status on WhatsApp is like Stories on Instagram, letting you share your location or feeling using this feature.

Channels is more tuned to the marketing side, which allows celebrities to set up channels on WhatsApp and get members to exclusively sign up for different news, updates and more. WhatsApp Channels is a definite prospect for further monetisation of WhatsApp, which Meta and Co. are really keen on pushing especially when they have over a billion daily active users. WhatsApp started the whole Business version to encourage businesses to interact with their customers for which all they need is their mobile numbers.

But Meta wants more from WhatsApp and it seems Mark Zuckerberg and Co. view this new strategy as the next possible revenue option on the popular messaging app. Bringing ads is unlikely to go down well with the users but Meta is more focused on garnering higher revenue out of its businesses, which includes Instagram and Facebook as well.