WhatsApp is rolling out a series of new features to improve communication. The interface is evolving, from animated emojis to media quality management. But a more intrusive announcement has tarnished the picture.
WhatsApp has been rolling out updates for several weeks. Android users will soon be able to choose the quality of automatically downloaded photos and videos. Another new feature allows you to animate emojis or create stickers from personal videos. Even groups can now be created without adding members immediately. These developments make the app more practical, more expressive, and more flexible in everyday life. But a more controversial new feature has been added to the list.
Meta has officially announced the arrival of ads in the Status section of WhatsApp. This is a first since the platform was acquired in 2014. These ads will appear in the Updates tab, between contacts' usual posts. They will take the form of full-screen visual content, similar to stories. This new integration follows a trend already well established on the group's other services, such as Facebook and Instagram. 
WhatsApp introduces ads in Statuses and allows paid subscriptions for channels
Ads only appear in the Status section. Private messages, however, remain end-to-end encrypted and are not affected. Meta specifies that personal exchanges will never be used for advertising purposes. This approach aims to reassure users while opening up a new monetization opportunity. Viewing statuses will now include interaction with sponsored content, with the option to send a message to the brand in question. At the same time, WhatsApp is strengthening its channel features. Creators will be able to activate paid subscriptions to share exclusive content with their subscribers. A new “Featured Channels” section will also be integrated to help discover popular or thematic profiles. This development is clearly inspired by the systems already in place on Telegram and Instagram. Payment methods have not yet been specified, but MetaPay could be used. While these features aim to boost the platform, they also mark a turning point: this app, long spared, is in turn becoming a commercial space like any other.
0 Comments