WhatsApp begins displaying ads

In the beta version 2.25.21.11 released for Android, WhatsApp has begun displaying ad content in the "Updates" tab. Two different ad formats are being tested as part of this new feature. The first is sponsored ads that will appear between users' status updates. Users can skip these ads quickly and block advertisers they do not wish to see. The second format is "Promoted Channels," where brands and content creators can pay to promote their own channels. These channels will appear in the discovery area with a "sponsored" label.

To address concerns regarding user privacy, WhatsApp stated that ads will only appear in the "Updates" tab and that private chats, group conversations, calls, and communities will not be affected by ads. These areas will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption.

Users will have control over the ads thanks to the new system. With a feature called "Activity Report," users can list the ads they have seen, block ads they do not want, and remove these blocks. Additionally, they can download their ad history as a ZIP file.

Ad targeting will be conducted using limited data. Data such as users' location information (country/city), the language selected in the app, and followed channels will be used. It was explicitly stated that personal message content will not be used for ad targeting.

These ad features are currently being tested by only a limited number of beta users. WhatsApp plans to collect feedback and make necessary adjustments before rolling out the system to all users.

News Source: 12punto