Popular messaging app WhatsApp has recently implemented a new feature on its platform, under which users are now seeing advertisements in status and channel feed. The presence of advertisements is a new experience for many users, because till now WhatsApp was considered an app without advertisements. The company says that this change has been made to strengthen the business model globally and make the content platform sustainable.
However, the sudden appearance of advertisements has created mixed reactions among users. A large number of users want to know if they can control these ads or limit them to some extent. Experts believe this advertising structure will further expand the WhatsApp Business ecosystem in the future, but its impact for individual users will vary depending on usage patterns.
Why are ads showing?
According to the company, the new ad formats have been introduced in view of the increasing popularity of WhatsApp Channels and the widespread use of the Status feature. Ads appear in the status section in the same way as story ads appear on other social media platforms. Advertisements in channels appear in the form of sponsored posts, which the platform’s algorithm displays based on users’ likes and interests.
Digital marketing experts say that this model is part of the meta ecosystem, in which target based advertisements will be shown on WhatsApp like Instagram and Facebook. However, these ads do not currently appear in chat windows, so users’ private conversations are not affected.
How to manage or hide ads?
WhatsApp doesn’t allow you to remove ads completely, but there are some steps users can take to reduce or control them.
1. Change ad preferences
Users can update ad settings by visiting their Meta Account Center. Interest-based advertising, activity tracking, and data sharing options can be changed here.
2. Report unwanted advertising
If an ad violates the Terms of Use or is found to be offensive, an ad appearing on a status or channel can be “reported.” This option helps the company to improve the quality of advertising.
3. Channel Management
Users can ‘unfollow’ channels in which advertisements appear excessively. This allows the algorithm to reassess your behavior and reduce unwanted content.
4. Limit data tracking
Limiting data tracking through the ‘Ad Management’ and ‘Privacy Control’ options in Settings changes ad relevance, which may automatically reduce some sponsored posts.
User feedback and future prospects
After this change, mixed reactions were seen on social media. Some users called it an unnecessary disruption, while others believed the change was acceptable if it facilitated the development of the platform. Tech experts predict that in the future, WhatsApp will further refine the advertising experience and may introduce more settings to control it.
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