Latest news with #WillCathcart
New York Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Outraged WhatsApp users hint at exodus after Meta's latest announcement: ‘Dumbest idea ever'
WhatsApp, which supports over 2.8 billion monthly users, is walking back its previous decision not to administer ads, much to the ire of its colossal client base. This choice follows other recent controversial updates, including an AI button that users have deemed cumbersome, and widespread ad campaigns across other platforms promising viewers that the messaging app does not collect user data. Back in 2023, rumors of the app implementing personalized ads circulated the Internet, but WhatsApp head, Will Cathcart, shut down speculations with a concise tweet. Cathcart also corrected the publication on the WhatsApp co-founder, Brian Acton's name. Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, has clarified the role of ads in the application's new strategy — promotional content will only be shown in the app's Updates tab, where users can currently add new statuses and join channels. 3 The Updates tab is reportedly used by over 1.5 billion people a day, per Meta. Meta In a June 16 blog post, Meta explained that the new policy on the Updates tab is intended to 'help Channel admins, organizations, and businesses build and grow' by introducing channel subscriptions, promoted channels, and ads in the status bar. WhatsApp was previously praised by its base for its security, reliability, and cost-effectiveness — it's free to users across the globe — but the implementation of ads changes more about the service than many WhatsAppers may realize. Meta disclosed that if users have not previously linked WhatsApp to other Meta accounts, it will use app-specific data and 'limited info like your country or city, language, the Channels you're following, and how you interact with the ads you see' to provide more ads that users 'might care about.' 'We will never sell or share your phone number to advertisers,' Meta assured its users. 'Your personal messages, calls, and groups you are in will not be used to determine the ads you may see.' End-to-end encryption is still guaranteed, and Meta also said that if users only use the app to call or message their contacts, there will be 'no change to [the] experience at all,' though for many, this promise simply isn't enough. 3 Many users opt for the app because it connects people across the globe without any additional fee. bongkarn – One aggrieved WhatsApper took to Reddit to share the news, and before long, complaints rolled into the thread in droves. 'I'm so sick of this,' said one user, referring to increasing numbers of ads across online spaces, while another declared: 'WhatsApp is officially getting deleted.' 'Ah, this is why [Meta's] been bombarding the world with ads swearing they NEVER snoop on your messages and that your conversations are 100% private, prooooomise,' said one keen observer. 3 WhatsApp was founded back in 2009 and has become one of the most popular messaging apps across the globe. AFP via Getty Images 'Just wait for ad-free WhatsApp Premium for a slim $5 per month,' predicted a cynical commenter. However, others in the thread didn't see an issue with the new feature: 'No one uses [the Updates tab] anyway.' WhatsApp users across the globe will see the ads roll out across the next few months, but many are already predicting a change in experience, prompting a migration over to other competing secure services like Telegram and Signal. 'This would be enough for me to seek out another messaging app,' one Redditor said.
Evening Standard
17-06-2025
- Business
- Evening Standard
WhatsApp is about to introduce ads in its messaging app
"Obviously there's overlap," said WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart, as reported by the BBC. "We have Stories on Instagram and Stories on WhatsApp, and we now have a way for businesses to promote themselves in both, and we think that's a good thing."
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
WhatsApp is set to roll out ads for the first time
By Published: Updated: WhatsApp is set to roll out ads for the first time ever — marking a stunning reversal of one of its founding principles. The free messaging app said adverts will be rolled out to its global users in the next few months. The new ads will appear in the 'status' section of the app under the 'updates' tab away from the main chat area. WhatsApp's co-founder Brian Acton made the company's mantra 'No ads! No games! No gimmicks!'. Even after its $19 billion acquisition by Meta in 2014, ads were kept at bay. As recently as 2023 Meta's WhatsApp boss denied reports the messaging service was considering introducing adverts . 'False. We aren't doing this,' Will Cathcart told the Financial Times. But now, the company is making a U-turn — as Meta looks to wring more revenue from one of its most widely used products. WhatsApp is the world's most popular messaging app, with 2.8 billion monthly users globally — though it trails Apple's iMessage in the US, where it has about 100 million users. 'People want to use WhatsApp for more than messaging close friends and family, and looking back a year and a half ago, that is part of the reason we introduced this Updates tab,' Srinivasan explained. 'If you're someone that uses WhatsApp for personal messaging and you never come to this tab, you won't see [advertising].' WhatsApp insists its messages will remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning only those sending and receiving messages can see them. However, some user information - such as location, language and what channels they follow - will be used to determine which adverts they're pushed. WhatsApp's updates tab attracts 1.5 billion daily users and its status section is the 'the world's most used stories product' according to the app. Other updates will include paid subscriptions to creator's channels and certain channels will be able to pay a fee to promote their content. Other recent updates have left users furious with some claiming they are ditching the app altogether. In April Meta introduced an AI icon on WhatsApp for its British users. Like ChatGPT, the feature allows users to ask questions to the tech giant's digital chatbot. Meta says the tool can be used for 'just about anything', from how-to tips, game ideas, lunch recipes and finding out the latest football scores. In the US, Apple's iMessage is dominant with 1.8 billion active devices compared to WhatsApp's 100 million users.
Hans India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
WhatsApp Begins Displaying Ads in Status; Meta Assures Personal Chats Stay Private
In a significant shift to its long-standing ad-free identity, WhatsApp has started showing advertisements in the app's Updates tab, specifically within the Status feature. This marks the first time Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, is integrating ad-based monetisation into the messaging platform—an app used by over 1.5 billion users daily. The update, announced via WhatsApp's official blog on Monday, is aimed at generating revenue without compromising the app's core promise of privacy and end-to-end encryption. The company unveiled three new features under the Updates tab: ads in Status, channel subscriptions, and promoted channels in the Explore section. Ads in Status: What to Expect The new advertising strategy leverages the Status feature, which functions similarly to Instagram or Facebook Stories—allowing users to post disappearing content like text, photos, or videos for 24 hours. Ads will now appear alongside user-generated Status updates, making them visible while users browse through content shared by their contacts. Crucially, Meta emphasised that private chats, calls, and group conversations will remain ad-free. 'We've been talking about our plans to build a business that does not interrupt your personal chats for years and we believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features to work,' said WhatsApp in the blog post. New Monetisation Tools for Channels Alongside advertisements, WhatsApp is rolling out a subscription model for channels. This allows users to pay a monthly fee for exclusive content and updates from creators and organisations they follow. In addition, promoted channels will now feature in the Explore section, giving admins a chance to increase their channel's reach. These changes are part of WhatsApp's broader strategy to align more closely with Meta's successful monetisation models already in place on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, which helped the tech giant earn over $160 billion in ad revenue last year. Privacy and Ad Targeting Addressing privacy concerns, Meta clarified how ad targeting on WhatsApp will function. Ads will be customised using limited user data—such as city or country, language settings, followed channels, and engagement with ads. However, if users have linked WhatsApp to Meta's Accounts Center, ad preferences from Facebook and Instagram may also influence the targeting. Meta reiterated that it does not share or sell phone numbers to advertisers, and that personal messaging content remains out of reach for ad algorithms. 'We believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features,' WhatsApp reiterated in its announcement, underlining its commitment to non-intrusive monetisation. This move comes after years of speculation and internal testing. In 2023, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart confirmed the platform was exploring ad integration. With this rollout, WhatsApp takes its first official step into the advertising space—seeking to strike a balance between revenue generation and user trust.
Economic Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Stage set for micro-dramas; WhatsApp's monetisation bid
Investors are flocking to micro-drama startups as the next big thing in India's content and entertainment industry. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch. Also in the letter: ■ K'taka bike taxi ban ■ ID verification crackdown■ Meta's new India head India's big bet on micro drama: Startups, investors eye a new content race Investors are getting hooked on short, binge-worthy micro dramas as the next big wave in India's entertainment space. Unlike user-generated content on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, micro-dramas are professionally produced, with higher production quality and serialised storytelling designed for mobile-first audiences. Notable actors: Alongside startups such as Flick TV, Eloelo, Kuku FM, Chai Shots, and ReelSaga, larger digital platforms like Amazon, ShareChat, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) are also stepping into the micro-drama market to meet growing demand. Investor interest: Venture capital firms are actively backing local content platforms, hoping to replicate the playbook of their Chinese counterparts. Monetisation hurdles: The big challenge now is figuring out how to monetise the format. In a price-sensitive market like India, where the average revenue per user (ARPU) remains low, this is no small platforms are testing a pay-per-episode model with micropayments, while others plan to introduce monthly and quarterly subscription tiers. A few are also exploring hybrid strategies that combine subscriptions with ad-supported revenue. Zooming out: Micro-dramas have had a breakout moment in China over the past few years. Earlier this year, The Economist noted that the value of China's micro-drama market had jumped 10x between 2021 and 2023. noted that the value of China's micro-drama market had jumped 10x between 2021 and 2023. Its current estimated worth of $5.3 billion is projected to reach $14 billion by 2027. Cumulatively, Chinese micro-drama apps have garnered nearly 55 million downloads and $170 million in revenue overseas, according to iiMedia Research, as reported by The Economist . WhatsApp ads will not impact privacy: Will Cathcart WhatsApp's monetisation efforts will not contravene user privacy, Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp at Meta, told us in an exclusive interview. Monetisation efforts by the platform have created value for both users and businesses, without compromising the app's core promise of privacy, security, and an ad-free chat experience, he said. Driving the news: On Monday, WhatsApp introduced ads in Status updates and launched subscriptions on Channels. The company clarified that these ads will not appear in private chats or calls. No risks to privacy: 'Nothing has changed about the privacy of people's messages, their calls, their statuses,' Cathcart emphasised, adding that these features remain end-to-end encrypted. But how? According to Cathcart, one of the key challenges is that encryption limits the amount of data available for ad targeting. This, he added, was a deliberate trade-off to preserve user privacy. However, the platform will do its 'best to make the ads relevant', he said. The ads in the Updates tab will reflect how users interact with the space, based on factors such as their country, city, language, and Channel activity, among other things, Cathcart said. Sponsor ETtech Top 5 & Morning Dispatch! Why it matters: ETtech Top 5 and Morning Dispatch are must-reads for India's tech and business leaders, including startup founders, investors, policy makers, industry insiders and employees. The opportunity: Reach a highly engaged audience of decision-makers. Boost your brand's visibility among the tech-savvy community. Custom sponsorship options to align with your brand's goals. What's next: Interested? Reach out to us at spotlightpartner@ to explore sponsorship opportunities. How the ban on Karnataka's bike taxis affects gig workers, commuters: ETtech explains On Monday morning, many Bengaluru commuters found themselves in a fix. With the Karnataka government's bike taxi ban taking effect, they were left scrambling for alternative transport. But beyond the inconvenience to riders, the move threatens the livelihoods of thousands of gig workers who relied on the service. What happened to the apps? Initially, Uber renamed its bike taxi option to 'moto courier' while Rapido called it 'bike parcel'. Ola, meanwhile, removed the feature entirely. As users speculated that the aggregators were trying to sidestep the regulations, both Uber and Rapido pulled the options from their apps altogether. Who's hit? Several commuters expressed frustration over the ban, especially those who depended on bike taxis for their speed and 50,000 and 60,000 gig workers are likely to be impacted across Karnataka, according to Shaik Salauddin, founder president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. Companies continue to lobby: In separate statements, ride-hailing firms Rapido and Uber stated they are engaging with the state's transport department in search of a resolution. Both expressed hope that the discussions would lead to a positive outcome. Ola has not commented on the matter. Also Read: Karnataka's ban on bike taxis: A timeline ET Explainer: Behind crackdown on unauthorised use of government databases for user onboarding The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed several technology-led startups to cease their offline Aadhaar-based know-your-customer (KYC) services. According to two individuals familiar with the situation, these companies have been accessing Aadhar data through unauthorised channels. Scrambling to comply: As the government tightens scrutiny of data platforms, industry players are now pushing for clearly regulated avenues to carry out Aadhaar verification. What's on offer: With customer onboarding increasingly shifting online, financial services companies and consumer technology firms need to verify users efficiently. This has opened up space for ID verification startups, which help validate documents and cross-check them against official government databases. Also Read: ID please? MeitY verifies identity verification startups The need: Startups rely on these services mainly to prevent fraud in sectors such as digital lending, insurance, payments, and merchant onboarding. Verifying identities on the go makes it easier to onboard users and reduce risk. Problem? The government is now assessing whether these verification services are being offered through legitimate channels and legal means. Industry sources told us that while most large startups follow the rules, several smaller players have allegedly gained unauthorised access to some sensitive government databases. Also Read: NPCI curbs unauthorised use of UPI IDs by fintech companies Other Top Stories By Our Reporters Vidit Aatrey, CEO, Meesho Meesho secures NCLT approval for reverse flip to India: The Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved Meesho's proposal to demerge its Indian entities from its US-based parent, marking a significant milestone in the company's plan to relocate its domicile to India. Meta appoints Arun Srinivas as its India head: Meta Platforms has named Arun Srinivas as its new managing director and head for India, the company announced on Monday. ShareChat CBO Gaurav Jain steps down amid leadership shakeups: Jain, who heads ShareChat's monetisation efforts across functions, shared plans to leave amid a string of high-profile exits at the vernacular social media platform. Global Picks We Are Reading ■ AI alone cannot solve the productivity puzzle (FT) ■ OpenAI and Microsoft tensions are reaching a boiling point (WSJ) ■ Would you switch browsers for a chatbot? (The Verge) Updated On Jun 17, 2025, 07:35 AM IST
