WhatsApp has become more or less the de facto messenger service for many. However, while it is extremely popular, it does not necessarily mean that it is the best, and that there are other messaging apps that do come with better features, but the good news is that it looks like WhatsApp will be getting some of them now.
For a while now, Facebook has been trying to figure out a way to monetize WhatsApp. The company acquired WhatsApp several years ago in what some called one of the most expensive acquisitions in tech, but to date, Facebook has yet to charge users to use the service (although the idea of introducing ads has been floated in the past).
While we do give out our phone numbers quite a bit, it’s a different story when we willingly give it out versus having it listed without our knowledge or permission. Unfortunately for WhatsApp users, it seems that due to a privacy flaw, it accidentally exposed users’ phone numbers in Google search listings.
In the latest beta for WhatsApp, it appears that the company is now testing out a new feature for adding contacts where you can simply scan a QR code to add them to your WhatsApp contacts list. This is versus before where you would need to add the person’s phone number to your phone’s contact list before you could start chatting with them on WhatsApp.
Advertising
Ever since Facebook was acquired by WhatsApp, many have been wondering how Facebook plans to monetize the otherwise free app. Given how much Facebook paid for the company, it is without doubt that they do plan on recouping those expenses. Last year there were plans to introduce ads, but earlier this year Facebook decided to ditch that idea.
Fighting misinformation amidst the coronavirus outbreak is crucial. This is because misinformation can lead to undue panic, which in turn could possibly make the current bad situation even worse. This is why WhatsApp has announced that to do their part, they will be limiting message forwarding to just one chat at a time.
Messengers like WhatsApp make for a great tool to help send messages and keep in communication with loved ones. Unfortunately, due to the ease of use, a lot of misinformation can be knowingly and unknowingly shared through the platform. With the world facing a crisis with the coronavirus outbreak, getting accurate information is more important than ever.
With some messaging apps and social media platforms, there is the option to post content temporarily before it disappears forever. In fact, recently Twitter has been toying with such a feature. Now it looks like WhatsApp could get something similar as well, at least that’s according to the latest beta discovered by WABetaInfo.
WhatsApp started out as a mobile app for users to chat with each other, but the company has since expanded where they have created a desktop version of the app where users can also chat while on their computers. Now, if you do use WhatsApp on the desktop, you might want to consider making sure it’s been updated to the latest version.
WhatsApp had a bit of a mixed business model at the start. The company had initially charged users an annual subscription fee, but they later removed it, and ever since then, the app has been free to use. When Facebook acquired it, there was no doubt that the company planned to monetize the app, but how exactly would they do that?