Angry Users Vow to Quit WhatsApp Over Meta’s Ad Rollout, Slammed as ‘Dumbest Idea’
WhatsApp Faces Backlash Over New Ads in Status Feature
With 2.8 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app—but its latest update has sparked outrage. Meta, its parent company, announced ads will soon appear in the app’s Status section, a controversial move branding experts call "tone-deaf" as users threaten to abandon the platform.
Ad Rollout and User Reactions
Ads will debut in the Status tab (under "Updates"), where users share disappearing photos and videos. Meta claims ads will "never interrupt chats" and won’t compromise end-to-end encryption. However, critics fear this is just the beginning. James Bore, a tech consultant, warns: "Meta’s history shows they’ll push more intrusive ads everywhere they can."
Social media exploded with backlash, with users calling it "the dumbest idea ever" and threatening to switch to rivals like Telegram. One X user wrote: "Bye bye Meta, may you lose every WhatsApp user." Others joked about returning to "Nokia 3310"-era simplicity.
Ads will appear in the "Status" tab, away from chats.
Data Privacy and Reassurances
Meta clarified that ads will use location, language, and interaction data but not personal messages. "Your chats remain encrypted, and we won’t share your number," the company stated. However, trust in Meta is shaky. Critics highlight past controversies, like training AI models on user data without consent.
Users criticize Meta’s ad plans on X.
WhatsApp’s Evolution and Denials
Meta (then Facebook) bought WhatsApp in 2014 but long resisted ads. As recently as 2023, CEO Will Cathcart denied plans for ads, calling reports "false." The recent U-turn frustrates users already annoyed by Meta’s intrusive AI chatbot button.
Alternatives Gain Traction
Furious users are eyeing alternatives:
- Telegram: Offers encryption (though not default) and self-destructing messages.
- Signal: Open-source, fully encrypted, and privacy-focused.
- iMessage/Google Messages: Platform-specific but integrate seamlessly with Apple/Android ecosystems.
Users joke about reverting to pre-app era.
What’s Next?
While ads are limited to Status for now, Meta’s ad-driven model suggests further expansion. With encryption intact, WhatsApp remains a safe space for chats—but users may flee if ads become unavoidable. As one critic noted: "Meta prioritizes profit over people every time."
Will WhatsApp’s ad experiment backfire? The next few months will decide.
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