Finally – Meta’s plan to monetise WhatsApp revealed, ads in status and promoted channels

In 2014 Facebook paid $19,000,000,000 for WhatsApp, a messaging platform that doesn’t charge its users so has no clear sign of revenue. Turns out, they have a plan and we’re going to start seeing that in action very soon.

But fear not, that group chat with your family and the private chat with your mates isn’t going to be filled with ads. Instead theres a couple of lesser known parts of the app going to be open to businesses.

And it’s all in the Updates tab.

Firstly, those “Status” posts that appear here from your mates, the ones that resemble stories on Instagram – well Advertisers will be able to put ads within Status to get the attention of users. Not at all dissimilar to Ads on Instagram in stories, but a new one for WhatsApp.

Now you might say, have never used it – well that’s ok, but millions do – and that’s where WhatsApp plans to capitalise.

Additionally, in the Updates channel we’ve had “Channels” now for a year or so. These are business channels from Sports Clubs, Brands and even awesome publications like EFTM (Follow now ok!)

Channel owners will be able to pay to be seen, so when users are searching for new channels to follow they will appear. Plus, there will be an option for a Monthly Subscription for Exclusive content via WhatsApp channels.

Nikila Srinivasan, VP of Business Messaging at Meta says “We’ve been talking about our plans to build a business that does not interrupt your personal chats for years and we believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features to work.”

While at the same time, reassuring customers and users of WhatsApp that their messaging with mates is safe – saying “Your personal messages, calls, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted. What this means is that no one, not even us, can see or hear them. And they cannot be used for ads.”