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Facebook Isn’t Going to Put Ads All Over WhatsApp, at Least Not Right Away

Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp is in the bag. After approvals from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the EU, Facebook filed the final paperwork earlier this week. Ok, so now ...
Facebook Isn’t Going to Put Ads All Over WhatsApp, at Least Not Right Away
Written by Josh Wolford
  • Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp is in the bag. After approvals from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the EU, Facebook filed the final paperwork earlier this week.

    Ok, so now Facebook has it and its 500 million+ user base. What are they going to do with it?

    Not a lot, for now, At least according to Mark Zuckerberg.

    Reuters reports that Facebook has no immediate plans to further monetize WhatsApp, according to a statement from Zuckerberg. No other details were given, as Zuckerberg made the remarks at a conference in India.

    I say “further” monetize WhatsApp because technically, the company does have a subscription structure. WhatsApp costs $0.99 a year, but only after the first year. It’s a simple structure that just begs to be messed with by the likes of a Facebook, but apparently Zuckerberg doesn’t have plans to do so.

    Yet.

    So for now, enjoy your ad-less WhatsApp.

    The Facebook/Instagram deal became official in September of 2012. In just over a year, in November of 2013, the very first ad debuted on Instagram. WhatsApp ins’t Instagram, of course. This is just some information that you can take or leave.

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