WhatsApp testing ads in status updates in select regions

The company is expected to expand the ads in status updates and also start paid promotion of Channels in phases to all users worldwide in the coming months.

In 2019, Meta (previously Facebook) acquired WhatsApp for a huge sum of $19 billion. Many wondered why the company would spend such a large amount on a free-to-use messenger app.

With more than three billion active users worldwide, Meta last month came up with a brilliant plan to monetise WhatsApp. It announced bringing ads in status updates and also starting paid promotion on WhatsApp Channels. But, it did not specify when it would set the ball rolling.

Now, it has begun testing the ads and promotional WhatsApp channels in select regions, reported WABetaInfo, citing the latest WhatsApp for iOS beta (v25.20.10.78).

Besides ads in status updates, Meta-owned entity will also offer paid promotion for WhatsApp channels in the messenger app.

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.

Further, WhatsApp Channel owners, like on YouTube, they 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.

The company is expected to release it in phases to all users worldwide in the coming months.

With this, Meta will be able to earn a substantial amount of revenue from ads to sustain their business.

In a related development, the company has launched Meta AI's latest 'Imagine me' in WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger apps in India.

Meta AI's new feature 'Imagine Me' is powered by the Emu image synthesis model.

With the new 'AI-powered photography' tool, users can turn their selfie into comic-style art or add animation effects, brush painting-like effects and do more.

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