Doha: Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, announced the introduction of in-app ads through the "Updates" Tab, which displays statuses and channels. Ads will appear to users in the "Status" section, alongside statuses posted by friends or family members.

According to Qatar News Agency, Meta stated that the new ads will be displayed based on users' interests, using limited information such as city, country, language, the channels they follow, and how they interact with ads. Users can adjust their ad preferences from the Meta Accounts Center.

Meta emphasized that they have been exploring ways to build a business on WhatsApp without interrupting personal chats and believe the Updates tab is the suitable platform for this. They reassured users that their phone numbers will not be sold or shared with advertisers, and personal messages, calls, and group interactions will not influence the ads displayed.

The updates also include displaying promoted channels to users when they click the "Explore" button to help them discover new channels. Additionally, users will soon have the option to subscribe to certain channels to receive exclusive updates.

The "Status" feature allows WhatsApp users to post texts, images, audio clips, and short video clips that disappear after 24 hours.