Recent rumors of potential changes to the popular messaging service WhatsApp have been denied the company’s head, Will Cathcart. Speculations about introducing advertisements to the platform were sparked a report in the Financial Times, which suggested that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, was considering ways to monetize the service, potentially displaying ads in the list of chats with contacts. However, Cathcart took to social media to refute these claims, stating that the FT story was false and that WhatsApp had no plans to introduce advertisements.
There were also suggestions in the article about the possibility of WhatsApp charging subscriptions for its usage. However, both the ideas of advertisements and subscription fees have reportedly divided insiders at the company, with many being opposed to these methods of generating revenue.
Since its launch in January 2009, WhatsApp has been a free messaging app that grew exponentially in popularity and user base. In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $22 billion, further solidifying its position in the tech industry. With over 1.5 billion subscribers worldwide, WhatsApp has remained ad-free and subscription-free, focusing on providing a seamless and convenient user experience.
Sources: Financial Times
