WhatsApp is rolling out ads. In an update on Monday, Meta announced that it will now show ads from businesses through its Stories-like status feature.

Meta says it will tailor the ads to your interests by using “limited” information, including your country or city, language, the channels you follow, and how you interact with ads on the platform. You can also change your ad preferences from Meta’s Accounts Center.

This isn’t the only change Meta is making to WhatsApp. The company will also start showing promoted channels when you click on the Explore button to find new ones to follow. It’s also rolling out the ability to subscribe to channels to “receive exclusive updates” as well.

    • KuroiKaze@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      You’re shocked to learn that people use an app with over 9 billion installs. Are you just fucking stupid?

    • tarknassus@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      All our clients use it. It’s bloody annoying. I have dozens who use WhatsApp, and like three who use Signal. Ironically, the three that use Signal also use WhatsApp and guess which one they use to contact us?

      It’s a problem when it’s got mass market traction to get people to switch. I’m still trying to get off Messenger but some people insist on it… Going to have to get firm about that.

    • insaneinthemembrane@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      All of my community groups are on there, including the school parents one. My choice is to not participate in the community or have Whatsapp… Or worse, Facebook.

    • imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      I had to do it because many use it and I was not. If you want to communicate in certain parts of the world, this is the only way. I wish everyone would go to Signal or Telegram but everyone are not me.

      • Redex@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Because SMS is trash, most of Europe doesn’t use iPhones and WhatsApp was one of the first messaging apps, so yeah.

    • aceshigh@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Some of us don’t have another choice. All (but 1) of my support groups are on WhatsApp and only 1 is on signal.