WhatsApp on iOS could soon start showing ads to users
Earlier this week, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton opened up about why he chose to leave Facebook a year ago. While speaking about this, he revealed that Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg actually had plans to implement ads before even acquiring the messaging app and now, nearly five years after the acquisition was made, it seems as though these implementations are right around the corner.
According to WABetaInfo, who has a history of providing accurate information about upcoming WhatsApp features, the popular messaging platform is already working on bringing ads to the iOS version of its app. These will replicate those seen through Instagram’s Stories by appearing within the WhatsApp Status. What remains unclear at this point, however, is if these ads will be targeted. After all, WhatsApp messages are encrypted, which means Facebook cannot use them to mine data on users. However, the company could choose to associate phone numbers with Facebook profiles. This would allow the social media giant to place targeted ads based on user activities within other apps.
As this particular feature is still in the testing phase, it may still be quite a while before iPhone users start seeing them. As soon as they are implemented, though, it’s only a matter of time before the feature arrives on Android devices.
According to WABetaInfo, who has a history of providing accurate information about upcoming WhatsApp features, the popular messaging platform is already working on bringing ads to the iOS version of its app. These will replicate those seen through Instagram’s Stories by appearing within the WhatsApp Status. What remains unclear at this point, however, is if these ads will be targeted. After all, WhatsApp messages are encrypted, which means Facebook cannot use them to mine data on users. However, the company could choose to associate phone numbers with Facebook profiles. This would allow the social media giant to place targeted ads based on user activities within other apps.
As this particular feature is still in the testing phase, it may still be quite a while before iPhone users start seeing them. As soon as they are implemented, though, it’s only a matter of time before the feature arrives on Android devices.
source: WABetaInfo
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