WhatsApp is entering a new era under the Meta ownership with AI, ads and premium features likely to be part of the intriguing evolution for the popular messaging platform. We had recently come across reports
about Meta going premium with WhatsApp and Instagram and this new tip suggests WhatsApp could be primed for something more advanced which might not exactly please billions of users.
Unlike the recent AI additions, WhatsApp is likely to focus on more utility additions and WaBetaInfo is the tipster with the details.
WhatsApp Paid Features Are Coming
The tipster in a post claims WhatsApp premium subscription could unlock a few more features for users who are willing to pay for the app. The change has been spotted in an upcoming Android beta version where WhatsApp users will be put on a waiting list before getting the option to use these tools.
So what special will the new premium version offer? The tipster says WhatsApp could have premium stickers, app themes, ability to set a ringtone for chats and a few more.
These might not sound very tempting, especially to get people paying for WhatsApp but we will have to wait till the full service releases in the near future and then see how people view these additions and whether it is worth paying for the messaging app.
Meta has been experimenting with different models as it looks to monetise the user base on these apps, and with the AI integration getting deeper, the scope for premium versions have only gotten better. For Instagram users, Meta could also offer features like ability to see followers who don’t follow you back, or able to watch a Story without telling the person that you did view it.
WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook have mostly operated as free platforms since their origin. But Meta did invest billions in buying them and maybe now it feels the time is right to monetise these platforms.
