WhatsApp head Will Cathcart denies experiences of chat app exploring advertisements to spice up income

Will Cathcart, the top of WhatsApp, refuted the media experiences on Friday suggesting that the Meta-owned immediate messaging platform is contemplating various strategies to extend income via the introduction of ads.

Previously, a FT report recommended that Meta owned WhatsApp is contemplating including advertisements to its chat app because the father or mother firm is in search of methods to extend income.

However, Cathcart took it to X and introduced the claims of WhatsApp exploring advertisements to its chat app being false. In his newest put up, attaching the FT story, he stated, “This @FT story is fake. We aren’t doing this. Also it appears to be like such as you misspelled Brian’s title…”

FT earlier reported that groups at Meta have been discussing whether or not to point out advertisements in lists of conversations with contacts on the WhatsApp chat display screen, however no closing choices have been made, as per sources near the event knowledgeable the publication..

The report additionally said that Meta was additionally contemplating including a subscription payment to make use of the app ad-free however many firm insiders voiced in opposition to it. However, all such claims have been denied by WhatsApp.

Moreover, as per Reuters, WhatsApp said the FT, “We can’t account for every conversation someone had in our company but we are not testing this, working on it, and it’s not our plan at all.”

Meanwhile, WhatsApp has lately introduced the launch of its WhatsApp Channels characteristic in India. The Meta owned firm will roll out the brand new characteristic to over 150 nations that may carry personal updates from organizations, sports activities groups, artists, and thought leaders that customers can comply with.

According to the corporate, WhatsApp Channels are a one-way broadcast device throughout the app.

Here are key options of WhatsApp Channels:

Enhanced Directory: It helps customers to search out channels that are already filtered as per their nation. Moreover, they will additionally view channels that are in style, most lively and new.

Reactions: Users can react with emojis to supply suggestions and witness a rely of general reactions. However, the emoji reacted by you’ll not be seen to followers.

Forwarding: Everytime you ahead an replace to chats or teams, this can embody a hyperlink sourcing channel for folks to know concerning the channel particulars and comply with you.

It is noteworthy that WhatsApp Channels is within the technique of being launched, however it isn’t accessible to everybody in the intervening time. For these with entry, the Meta owned platform is introducing new functionalities. Certain options, equivalent to channel creation, will not be accessible to some customers presently.

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Updated: 15 Sep 2023, 11:04 AM IST