Whatsapp, owned by Meta, is introducing advertisements and paid subscriptions. Initially, ads will appear only in the Status section, but it's expected to expand to other areas over time.
Users will see personalized ads within the Status section, initially. The long-term goal is likely to increase ad revenue by expanding ads to more areas of the platform. While some users might switch platforms, many are likely to remain due to convenience and familiarity.
Paid subscriptions apply to Whatsapp Channels, enabling businesses and influencers to offer exclusive content to subscribers. This is a model adopted from other platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Onlyfans.
Several alternative messaging apps offer enhanced privacy and features:
Rich Communication Services (RCS) was intended to replace SMS and resolve interoperability issues among messaging platforms. However, its implementation has been slow and hindered by telecommunication providers in regions like Switzerland.