WhatsApp wan monetize di app for users all ova di world?

WhatsApp dey launch three new ad features inside one global roll-out across di messaging app.

Meta say di new ads no go show for pipo private chats, and for di contents of dia messages wey dey coded.

WhatsApp instead go use di kontri, city and language of di user, plus how dem dey interact wit oda ads and which channel dem dey follow, to increase suggested content.

But pipo wey don choose to link dia WhatsApp account to Facebook or Instagram go see more personalised ads.

Di new ad features go appear for one section dem call Updates, wey be one separate tab for di bottom of di app.

How di Update section go work

WhatsApp claim say dem get 1.5 billion users globally.

Businesses wey get channels go fit choose to promote ads for di Updates section to attract new followers, and dem go fit also charge subscription to access extra contents.

WhatsApp go take 10% commission from dat money, dem fit also charge extra money for di app store level depending on di size of di business.

Companies go also fit advertise dia products for di form status update, wey dey similar to Instagram story and e go link through to start chat if dem click on am.

Social media expert Matt Navarra tell BBC say Meta dey "lay di foundation for WhatsApp to finally become a monetisable platform at scale".

But "monetising part of" WhatsApp, while keeping personal chats private, no go dey without risk for di company, e add.

Dis particularly go be di case for markets like UK and Europe, e tok, wia dem see di app primarily as a messaging tool, wey no too send for content feeds or adverts.

"Any perception say di app dey become noisy or Facebook-ified go spark backlash," e tok.

'Natural extension'

No be coincidence say di new features bring WhatsApp more in line wit Meta oda platforms Facebook and Instagram.

"Obviously all join togeda," WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart tok.

"We get stories on Instagram and stories on WhatsApp, and now we get way for businesses to promote themselves in both, and we think say dat na good thing."

E say im believe say di move na "natural extension of messaging services" and di features no different from rival apps like Snapchat and Telegram.

For Oga Navarra, e also reflect a wider shift for di social media landscape.

"Di feed dey die, public sharing dey down, pipo dey retreat into DMs and Stories in small groups," e tok.

"Meta dey try turn WhatsApp to platform without users realising it and if dem move too fast or e begin dey look like anoda ad network, pipo fit stop to dey use di app or worse, distrust di app."

WhatsApp make users vex recently wen di introduce permanent button for Meta AI tool, wey users no fit deactivate or delete, and Oga Cathcart say users wey no wan see di ads or follow channels no go dey forced to.

"I want to stress this won't affect your inbox," he said.

"If na only messaging you dey use WhatsApp for, you no go see am."

"I wan make am very clear, dis no go affect your inbox," e tok.

"If you dey use your WhatsApp only for messaging, you no go see di ads."

E say di Update section of di app "no dey popular" for UK but dem dey use am more for oda parts of di world, and di firm go "look di feedback" about di unremovable AI tool - but many other features dey for di app wey also be permanent.

"You no fit delete di channels button, you fit delete di Updates button, you no go fit delete di calls button," e tok.

"I mean, we also no wan get service wey get plenty settings….e go dey too complex"