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WhatsApp introduces ads in its app

(www.nytimes.com)
713 points greenburger | 2 comments | 16 Jun 25 13:38 UTC | HN request time: 0.6s | source
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leokennis ◴[16 Jun 25 14:05 UTC] No.44289612[source]▶
At least in The Netherlands, WhatsApp could show a 60 second unskippable modal ad video on every launch, and still get away with it due to network effects.

If you’re not on WhatsApp, no updates or news from your kids school, your sports team, your family, your car dealership etc. for you.

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parpfish ◴[17 Jun 25 03:57 UTC] No.44295633[source]▶
Here’s an advertising model I’ve thought about but never seen:

The app itself is 100% ad free and runs on credits. You get credits through se other portal by logging in to watch ads whenever it’s convenient for you.

Good app experience for the user, and potentially better experiences for the advertisers because they get the target audience when they are most open to ads (and not annoyed by them).

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1. contravariant ◴[17 Jun 25 08:15 UTC] No.44296794[source]▶
That's just a paid app with extra steps.
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2. parpfish ◴[17 Jun 25 13:51 UTC] No.44299239[source]▶
Yeah. It’s a paid app, but it gives people the option of explicitly selling their time/attention via ads if they don’t want to use money.

Most users would probably pay, but some people really don’t want to/can’t and this gives them an option.