WhatsApp will now feature ads and new monetisation tools as Meta moves to unlock revenue from its popular messaging platform.
This marks a major shift for the platform after more than 15 years of ad-free messaging. Meta announced on Monday, June 16.
The company plans to place advertisements inside WhatsApp’s Status section, similar to how they appear in Instagram Stories. Users will see sponsored content between updates from friends and contacts.
In addition, the platform will launch promoted channels to help businesses and creators gain more visibility. Users can also subscribe to paid channels for exclusive content from brands, influencers, or organisations. These subscriptions will operate monthly.
Meta made it clear that personal chats, calls, and group conversations will remain private and ad-free. All personal messages will continue to be protected with end-to-end encryption.
Read Also: Meta dominates top global social media advertising spend
“We’ve been talking for years about building a business on WhatsApp that doesn’t interrupt your personal chats,” said the product team. “We believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features.”
Users who do not want to see ads can disable the Updates tab completely.
The new changes aim to create more value for small businesses, content creators, and advertisers. With over 2 billion active users globally, WhatsApp offers brands one of the most direct channels to reach people.
In Nigeria, WhatsApp has over 51 million users, more than a quarter of the population. It serves as a vital communication tool for both personal and business use. From market traders to multinational companies, many rely on WhatsApp to stay in touch with customers and close sales.
As WhatsApp rolls out these features in the coming months, Nigerian marketers and advertisers are expected to respond quickly. Many will start mapping out strategies to take full advantage of the new ad placements and paid channels. This change brings brands even closer to consumers’ daily lives right inside their most-used messaging app.
For businesses looking to increase visibility and engagement, WhatsApp ads could become a powerful new playground for digital marketing in Nigeria and beyond.
Comment
No comments found.