Facebook has confirmed that it will introduce ads to its popular WhatsApp messaging service in 2020.
The social network made the announcement at the Facebook Marketing Summit in the Netherlands and the news was subsequently shared on Twitter by social media commentator Matt Navarra.
Coming Soon to @WhatsApp…
– WhatsApp Status (Stories) to get Ads in 2020
– WhatsApp for Businesses to get richer messaging format options
– WhatsApp product catalog to be integrated with existing Facebook Business Manager catalog
h/t + 📸 @Olivier_Ptv
at #FMS19 pic.twitter.com/Z5LsbADNbP— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) May 21, 2019
According to Facebook, ads will run in the ‘Status’ section, WhatsApp’s equivalent to the ‘Stories’ 24-hour ephemeral media feature in fellow Facebook-owned app Instagram.
WhatsApp’s ads will work similarly to Instagram Stories ads. As you scroll through the slideshow of your friends’ WhatsApp Statuses, you’ll encounter the occasional ad. As is the case with regular Statuses, these ads will take up the whole screen. You’ll then be able to swipe up to visit the advertiser’s promotional page or website.
Facebook hasn’t yet confirmed a specific rollout date for the WhatsApp ads beyond a vague 2020 window.
Source: 9to5Google
