Meta begins to monetise WhatsApp, brings ads to status updates and more in messenger app

Also, WhatsApp Channel owners get the option to add pay-and-subscribe. For a monthly fee, users get access to exclusive content from channels.

In 2024, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) acquired WhatsApp for a whopping $19 billion. Many experts were bewildered as to why Mark Zuckerberg would pay such a hefty amount for a free-to-use Messenger app.

It was not long ago when Meta made the first move to monetise WhatsApp by changing the user privacy policy and terms of services in 2021.

It faced tough resistance over storing user data exchanged between individuals and business accounts on WhatsApp. In India too, the company, which has more than half a billion active users, received a more severe backlash and finally had to revoke the plan.

Now, Zuckerberg has come up with a plan of sneaking in short advertisements between status updates. This is less likely to get scrutinised unless there is a serious breach of user privacy to deliver targeted ads.

With over three billion active users, on any average day, 1.5 billion daily active users engage with the 'Updates' section of WhatsApp, which includes Channels and Status updates.

Further, WhatsApp Channel owners will also get an option to monetise their work. They will get the option to add pay-and-subscribe. For a monthly fee, users get access to exclusive content from channels.

WhatsApp brings new features to status updates and Channels.

With the 'Promoted Channels' option, owners can also get the opportunity to boost their channel discoverability by paying a fee to Meta. This will help them expand their audience base to wider geographies.

This will significantly not just boost the revenue of WhatsApp, but also of those who run channels on the messenger app.

WhatsApp Channel get option to monetise their content with monthly subscriptions feature.

However, Meta will seek limited information such as the user's country or city, language, the Channels he/she is following, and how they interact with the ads you see on status updates.

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