Whatsapp has been running free for a very long time without providing any revenue stream for Facebook and we've all been wondering how Whatsapp makes money since there are no Ads.
I was actually a beta tester for Whatsapp Business way back before it was rolled out for use globally and I got to test a lot of features and monetization is something that may come to the app very soon based on the number of tests I conducted.
Although WhatsApp's policy has always been non-inclusion of ads, after cancelling the payment of the annual fee.
Now, it seems that a collaboration between Facebook and WhatsApp Business will start advertising on the platform. Although for now its format and characteristics are unknown.
WhatsApp has updated it's terms of service in the beta version of the Android application to add new details related to advertising.
Here is a fragment of the new advertising terms and conditions of the platform :-
“WhatsApp is working to find useful ways for our users to connect with companies on WhatsApp to receive information about orders, transactions and appointments, notifications of delivery and shipment, the update of products and services, marketing messages, listings of commercial directories to discover business on WhatsApp and other sponsored content/announcements of these companies”.
“During the next year, we will work with Facebook companies to do so. For example, you may see options on Facebook to start a conversation with a company on WhatsApp. If you use the Facebook Company Products, we will ask Facebook to use the information it has about you and your interests to help us provide you with a way to connect with companies in a relevant and personalized way through informative marketing messages, listings of business directories and other content/sponsored ads on WhatsApp.”
Now, does this mean that WhatsApp is getting ready to bombard us with ads?
At the moment, the only thing I'm sure about is that companies can send us advertising information, but the format or specific characteristics have not yet been defined at any point.
However, it still seems unlikely that they will begin to show ads in the application, but everything seems aimed at offering additional functions to WhatsApp Business to monetize the platform. At the moment there is no official confirmation from the company, so I guess we all will have to wait to learn more.
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