New features are being introduced in WhatsApp's Updates tab, which includes both Channels and Status. This tab, utilized by 1.5 billion people daily, aims to help businesses and organizations grow without disrupting personal chats.
Key Features
Channel Subscriptions: Users can subscribe to their favorite channels for exclusive updates at a monthly fee.
Promoted Channels: Users will discover new channels through a directory, allowing channel admins to enhance visibility.
Ads in Status: Users can find new businesses and initiate conversations about products or services promoted in Status.
These features will only appear in the Updates tab, ensuring that personal chat experiences remain unchanged.
Privacy Considerations
WhatsApp emphasizes privacy, maintaining end-to-end encryption for personal messages, calls, and statuses. Ads will be tailored using limited information such as location, language, and user interactions, without selling or sharing phone numbers with advertisers.
The rollout of these features will occur gradually over the coming months, with additional information available for businesses and Channel admins interested in participation.
