WhatsApp on Monday announced that it will soon introduce advertisements and other paid features in a major shift for the messaging app, which has mostly remained ad-free since its launch. The move marks WhatsApp’s most significant step toward monetisation since it was acquired by Meta in 2014.

The major changes are focused on WhatsApp Channels and Status. For the first time, Channel owners will have the option to charge a monthly subscription fee, giving followers access to exclusive updates. Additionally, a new Promoted Channels feature will allow people to pay to increase their channel’s visibility.

WHATSAPP has announced plans for a brand new feature that requires users to pay fees. The popular messaging app has revealed a wave of changes coming soon. However, WhatsApp has assured its

As per Meta's Newsroom, advertisements will appear only in the "Updates" tab — a separate tab at the bottom of the app, which showcases both "Channels" and "Status" features. Users can subscribe to friends and other public channels, and post statuses of their own, akin to Instagram 's subscription and "Stories" features.

WhatsApp is introducing three new advertising features in a global rollout, marking a significant step towards monetisation