The widely used messaging application, WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has subtly started introducing advertisements for an increasing number of users.

This change, considered one of the most significant shifts for the platform in years, focuses on the Updates tab.

Media outlets indicate that users in India and other areas are encountering promotional content specifically within the Status and Channels sections.

The chat conversations remain unaffected by ads for the time being, with the integration confirming Meta’s ongoing strategy to boost revenue from the platform.

Over the past few days, in some countries, many users have reported spotting promotional posts mixed between regular Status updates or appearing inside followed Channels.

WhatsApp’s Vice President of Product Management,

According to Nikila Srinivasan, WhatsApp’s Vice President of Product Management, WhatsApp will collect limited user data, such as location and device language, to target these ads, but insists that message content and personal conversations will remain private.

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The company reiterated that chats and calls will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption.

She emphasized the importance of privacy in developing this feature. She reassured users that personal messages, calls, and statuses will remain secure despite the new advertising approach.

How to Manage WhatsApp Ad Preferences

Since WhatsApp is beginning to roll out ads, here are the steps and options for managing the advertisements you see:

General Ad Preferences (Via Meta’s Accounts Center)

You can control the overall categories of ads you receive across all Meta platforms, including those that might eventually appear on WhatsApp:

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• Open WhatsApp Settings: Navigate to the main menu.
• Go to Accounts Centre: Select the option that links to your Meta Accounts Centre.
• Navigate to Ad Preferences: Look for Account Settings, and then select Ad Preferences.
• Control Ads: Here, you can usually adjust settings related to your activity, information from partners, and the overall types of ads you are shown.

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Whatsapp Conversation tabs. PHOTO/Courtesy