Published in News

Meta thinking about adverts in WhatsApp

by on15 September 2023


Elon Musk isn't the only one who can kill a successful messaging business

WhatsApp is exploring a new "feature" that would display adverts in the app for the first time, as parent company Meta seeks to monetise the world's most messaging service.

As you might expect the idea is about as popular as a Yevgeny Prigozhin fanzine in Kyiv, but apparently most of the blow-back is within Meta itself.

Teams at Meta have been discussing whether to show ads in lists of conversations with contacts on the WhatsApp chat screen, but no final decisions have been made.

However, the concept has been debated at a high level within the company, due to concerns it would alienate users, said a person with close knowledge of the discussions.

Two of these people said that Meta is also deliberating whether to charge a subscription fee to use the app ad-free, but many insiders are against the move.

Before WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for $19 billion in 2014, its co-founder Brian Action had made "No ads! No games! No gimmicks!" a company mantra.

Last modified on 15 September 2023
Rate this item
(2 votes)