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WhatsApp Ads Not Intrusive of Users' Privacy, Insists Augusto Beato

Augusto Beato, CEO of Portland SEO, feels that the plan to insert ads in WhatsApp in the Status feature will not be seen by users as an intrusion to their private conversations.

The WhatsApp Status functions as a feed and is nowhere connected to the users' private conversations, Beato pointed out.

The insertion of ads has been criticized as violative of the privacy of the users since WhatsApp is widely considered as a private communications platform among consumers, which might result in users viewing ads on the Status feature as intrusive. There were also comments that transitioning the service to a “freemium” and/or transaction-based model to one that monetizes on reach will annoy users over time.

WhatsApp's vice-president Chris Daniels confirmed the move to insert ads into its Status feature, though he did not provide a timeline for when it would be rolled out or how the ads would work. He added that putting an ad into its Status feature will be the main mode of monetization for WhatsApp, as well as an opportunity for businesses to reach people on WhatsApp.

Like with Instagram stories, WhatsApp's Status feature lets users broadcast text, photos, and videos which disappear after 24 hours.

The ads will reportedly be driven by Facebook’s native advertising system and intended to help users understand and engage with businesses using WhatsApp.

WhatsApp had more than 1.5 billion global users and maintained its ad-free status until now, although it did experiment with an annual subscription fee several years ago. Facebook Inc acquired the messaging apps four years ago for US$19 billion.

The move to insert ads follows WhatsApp’s co-founder Jan Koum departure from the company due to disagreements with Facebook management about WhatsApp user data privacy and weakened encryption. Koum obscured that motive in his note that says, “I’ll still be cheering WhatsApp on – just from the outside.”

WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton had opposed monetization via targeted apps, telling Forbes that it would compromise the assurance of encryption in the app's messaging.

To learn more about Portland SEO, follow this link. Click here for those who wish to reach out to a Portland SEO representative.

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Contact Portland SEO:

Augusto Beato
(503) 278-5580
info@portlandseo.net
111 SW 5TH AVE Suite 3100,#3102 Portland, OR 97204

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