WhatsApp to show ads in status and promote channels in new Beta update

New Delhi: Meta is taking a big step to make money from WhatsApp by testing new ad features and in its latest Android beta update (version 2.25.21.11), the messaging platform has introduced two new tools – ‘Status Ads’ and ‘Promoted Channels’.

These features are now available to select beta users on Android, according to WABetaInfo.

Status Ads are similar to the ads you see on Instagram Stories. Business accounts can now post sponsored content that will appear in users’ Status feeds.

These ads will show up between updates from friends and family but will have a clear “sponsored” label, so users can easily tell them apart from personal posts.

WhatsApp is also giving users control over what they see. If someone doesn’t want to see ads from a particular advertiser, they can block them, and those ads won’t appear again.

The second feature, Promoted Channels, will help public channels become more visible in WhatsApp’s channel directory.

Just like Status Ads, these promoted channels will be marked as “sponsored”. When a business or creator pays to promote their channel, it will appear higher in search results, making it easier for users to find and follow them.

These changes could be very useful for brands, creators, and organisations who want to grow their audience quickly.

It also signals WhatsApp’s serious entry into the world of advertising and creator monetisation — something already common on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

Meta has assured that these ads won’t affect users’ privacy. The company says all promotional content will only be shown in public areas like Status and Channels, not in private chats. So, your personal messages will remain ad-free.

Earlier, in a previous beta update (2.25.19.15), WhatsApp also started testing a feature that lets users download detailed ad activity reports.

These reports show which ads were displayed, who the advertisers were, and when the ads were seen. This adds more transparency compared to traditional ad platforms.

IANS

 

Gold prices surge 200 pc in 6 years; Silver crosses Rs 1.13 lakh per kg again

New Delhi: Over the past six years, gold prices in India have risen by an astounding 200 per cent, skyrocketing from Rs 30,000 to over Rs 1,00,000 per 10 grams...

Foreign ownership of Samsung Electronics tops 50 pc again

Seoul: Foreign ownership of Samsung Electronics has climbed back above 50 percent in the South Korean stock market, while retail investors favoured SK hynix this month, the main bourse said...

Viceroy Research says Vedanta Semiconductors a ‘sham’ commodities trading operation

New Delhi: Firing fresh salvo at Anil Agarwal-run Vedanta Group, US short-seller firm Viceroy Research said in its latest report that Vedanta Semiconductors is a ‘sham’ commodities trading operation designed...

BIS makes hallmarking of 9 karat gold mandatory

New Delhi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Friday announced that it will also be mandatory to hallmark 9 karat gold with effect from July 2025. Hallmarking is governed...

Digi Yatra hits 15 million downloads, aims to serve 80 pc of air travellers by 2028

Bengaluru: Digi Yatra has crossed 15 million application downloads, underscoring the platform’s potential to revolutionise the airport experience for millions of passengers through biometric-enabled, contactless airport journeys, it was announced...

360 million Airtel customers get AI Perplexity Pro tool worth Rs 17,000 for free

New Delhi: Bharti Airtel on Thursday said it has partnered with AI-powered search and answer engine Perplexity to offer its 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription worth Rs 17,000 free of cost...

Nifty likely to reach 26,889 by December driven by domestically-oriented sectors

Mumbai :Nifty is expected to reach 26,889 by December this year, driven by a multi-faceted recovery in domestic demand, supportive monetary policies and focused fiscal initiatives, a report stated on...

Nvidia, Google most bought US stocks by Indians in April-June

New Delhi: Chipmaker Nvidia Corporation, which recently touched a $4 trillion market cap mark, was the most traded US stock by Indian investors, topping both buy and sell lists in...

Tesla Model Y launched in India at Rs 60 lakh, deliveries likely from Q3 2025

Mumbai: Electric car-maker Tesla on Tuesday entered India with launching its Model Y vehicle with rear-wheel drive (RWD) at a starting price of Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom).   Tesla Model...

Leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin surges past $1,21,000 milestone for first time

New Delhi: Leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin surged past the $1,21,000 milestone for the first time on Monday. According to data from CoinMarketCap, the cryptocurrency went up 2.75 per cent at $1,21,097.94...

TCS, Bharti Airtel see big value erosion this week

  Mumbai: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Bharti Airtel witnessed a sharp fall in their market value this week, dragging down overall investor sentiment. The benchmark Sensex dropped by 932.42...

Commerce & Industry Ministry clocks hectic week to push exports, big projects

New Delhi: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has concluded a hectic week with Union Minister Piyush Goyal travelling across the country from Srinagar in the north to Bengaluru in...

Read Previous

Fresh clashes erupt in Syria’s Sweida as ceasefire teeters

Read Next

India A men’s hockey team ends Europe tour campaign with 2-8 loss against Netherlands

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com