Soon you will start seeing ads on WhatsApp. Yes, you heard it right. Facebook is making moves to monetize WhatsApp.

WhatsApp's moment of truth has come, with more than 1.5 billion monthly users worldwide, it is one of the the most commonly used messaging app. As we all know WhatsApp lacks a subscription model to charge its users. So in the absence of subscription fees, WhatsApp was not generating enough revenue for its parent company, Facebook. As a result Facebook owned messaging app is monetized

We all can remember, during its initial phase WhatsApp has a subscription model in which it charges around 50-55 rupees per user, per year after completion of one free year of the user, but this policy of WhatsApp was taken back because with the success of WhatsApp many other messaging apps were launched and they were charging no fees from their users. WhatsApp officials analyse that situation and realized that if WhatsApp will charge subscription fees, then definitely it will loose major part of its users. So since then it is free, no subscription fees is charged from the users.
So one way or other WhatsApp have to increase its revenue so the officials at WhatsApp decide to monetize it. WhatsApp has already confirmed that it will start showing ads to users through its status feature in 2019, leaving only a few months for an ad-free experience on the platform. WhatsApp is already working to implement ads in its iOS app, according to WABeataInfo, a reputable name when it comes to WhatsApp feature spottings and leaks.

According to a tweet thread by WABetaInfo on Thursday, "after viewing a certain number of statuses, WhatsApp might show an ad." The tweets also signify how WhatsApp told its users a lie when it said that "absolutely no ads interrupting your communication" will be shown in its blog post after the Facebook acquisition back in 2014.

The relevation is interesting, given it comes after an interview by WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who had left the company earlier this year. Acton has caused a stir when he recently tweeted #DeleteFacebook in the middle of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Later, WhatsApp other co-founder Jan Koum also left the company and it was reported that the two left because they were unhappy with Facebook's push on advertising for the messaging app.

When WhatsApp was launched, both Koum and Acton had said that they wanted to keep the platform ad-free. Later, when the app was acquired by Facebook in 2014, the founders had stressed they would keep the messaging app ad-free. However, Facebook clearly had different plans and by 2018, both the founders left the company as they disagreed with Zuckerberg. In the Forbes interview, Acton admitted that, "Targeted advertising is what makes me unhappy", and that WhatsApp's motto of no ads, no games was in direct contrast to Facebook which depends on ads for its revenue.

Soon, you will start seeing ads in the WhatsApp status section. So, why this is a bad thing? Well, think back to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The problem with the data being gathered there by Facebook was that it was too much.

It is not yet clear whether the ads appearing in Statuses will be targeted as WhatsApp messages are encrypted. In simple terms, it isn't known if WhatsApp's parent company will be collecting user data to show targeted ads. The nature of WhatsApp messages -- because they are end-to-end encrypted -- does not give Facebook the leverage to access user data based on their chats but it may go about collecting data in other ways.

Another way in which monetisation might be possible on WhatsApp is through WhatsApp for Business. The newly released WhatsApp Business API (application programming interface) will make it easier for companies to communicate with current and potential customers through end-to-end encrypted messages.

 Businesses will now be able to send customized notifications with relevant non-promotional content such as shipping confirmations, appointment reminders or event tickets, all at a flat rate. The company last month announced that it would charge a fee from other companies for late replies to customers and for sending notifications. Surprisingly or not, customers read 90 percent of delivered messages, according to Sale Stock's reports. This number is highly attractive for brands that are looking to connect with their customers in a meaningful way.

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