Meta is making a major shift in how it monetises WhatsApp, its massively popular messaging platform, by introducing ads and subscription features in the coming months. The change, announced on June 16 via a press release and further explained in a briefing with reporters, marks the first time WhatsApp will host paid promotions.

The cofounders of WhatsApp resisted ads in the app for years, including after the company was acquired by Meta for $22 billion in 2014. Brian Acton and Jan Koum left the company in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and on Monday Meta introduced ads in the “Status” feature as well as sponsored Channels in the the “Updates” tab of WhatsApp.

Shares of Meta Platforms, the top performing stock in the Magnificent 7 this year, got a boost Monday as the tech giant announced plans to introduce paid advertising to WhatsApp, opening up a new revenue stream.

Por TheWhatsApp informó el lunes que los usuarios comenzarán a ver anuncios en partes de la aplicación de mensajería, ya que su propietario Meta Platforms

WhatsApp is testing ads in Status and paid channel subscriptions, all inside the Updates tab. Private messages remain encrypted and ad-free.

There's no shortage of reasons to stay off the Meta ecosystem, which includes Facebook and Instagram, but there are some places where WhatsApp remains the main form of text-based communication. The app is a great alternative to SMS,

Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will let users scan documents directly from the app using their phone's

For the first time since launching in 2009, WhatsApp will now show users advertisements. The ads are “rolling out gradually,” the company said. For now, the ads will only appear on WhatsApp's Updates tab,