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WhatsApp introduces first major advertising features

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WhatsApp on the App Store displayed on a phone screen is seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on June 7, 2025. [AFP]

WhatsApp announced Monday it will introduce its boldest advertising features yet, marking a significant shift for the messaging platform that has largely remained ad-free since its launch.

The move is a sensitive one for WhatsApp, whose chief firmly denied a report in 2023 that said the Meta-owned app was exploring advertisements as it sought to boost revenue.

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