WhatsApp has announced that it’s adding ads to the popular messaging app, though the initial implementation promises to be relatively restrained. In a recent Meta blog post, the company revealed that it was adding adverts to the app’s Updates tab.

WhatsApp monetization begins, potentially adding $15B+ annual revenue from Meta Platforms, Inc.'s nearly 3B global users. Click for my META stock update.

The cofounders of WhatsApp resisted ads in the app for years, including after the company was acquired by Meta for $22 billion in 2014. Brian Acton and Jan Koum left the company in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and on Monday Meta introduced ads in the “Status” feature as well as sponsored Channels in the the “Updates” tab of WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is rolling out ads on parts of the platform, but assures users that personal messages, calls and statuses will remain end-to-end encrypted and private.

WhatsApp has confirmed it's making a major change to its chat app, which will mean users across the globe will suddenly face seeing adverts on the screen. These are destined for a section called Updates, which sit in a tab at the bottom of the screen.

ChatGPT’s image generator is now on WhatsApp, allowing users to create AI images by chatting with the AI chatbot.

Related: Surprising earnings send Meta Platforms stock soaring By August 2014, WhatsApp had ballooned to 600 million users and become the popular messaging app in the world. Experts predicted the app could force the telecommunications industry to lose billions.

ChatGPT can generate amazing images for you via WhatsApp texting. All you need to do is save the ChatGPT number.

For the first time since launching in 2009, WhatsApp will now show users advertisements. The ads are “rolling out gradually,” the company said. For now, the ads will only appear on WhatsApp's Updates tab,