WHATSAPP announced a significant change in messaging this week, an update which will effect millions of users.
The popular app is set to limit the number of messages individual users and businesses can send each month.
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The update comes after Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp as well as Facebook and Instagram, rolled out their AI virtual assistant for UK users this week.
Now, the company plans to start testing the limits on individual broadcast messages, according to a report by News.
Broadcast messaging is a feature that allows you to send the same message to multiple contacts simultaneously.
However, unlike in group chats, recipients receive the message as privately and cannot see who else received it
Under the new proposed limits, users may have to use status updates or channels to send messages to a large number of people.
This will all depend on the monthly limit, which has yet to be set as Meta tests various numbers during a trial period.
One example the company gave was allowing just 30 broadcast messages per month.
They revealed that they are also considering similar measures for business accounts.
Until now, business accounts could send free and unlimited broadcast messages.
However, now Meta plans to introduce a paid version of the feature, with additional tools.
Business account users will soon be able to schedule messages as well.
Meta use the new AI feature to test new customised broadcast messages for product updates or holiday sales.
During the trial, merchants will get 250 customized messages for free, with the option to pay for additional messages.
The company has yet to announce a price for these messages.
According to Meta, this new update is an effort to reduce spam within the app.
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They have previously taken steps to tackle this issue, including limiting the number of marketing messages users get in a day.
Meta have also experimented with an “unsubscribe” feature within WhatsApp which allows users to notify what businesses they would like to stop receiving messages from.
WhatsApp business owners will still have access to the main features of the app for free, such as the landing page, business profile with details, and the ability to create a catalogue.
Meta will then charge for various kinds of messages, including marketing, utility, service, and authentication, when merchants use the solution powered by its application performing interface (API).
This interface connects your business processes, services, content, and data to channel partners, internal teams, and independent developers in an easy and secure way.
APIs are quickly becoming the de facto standard by which companies exchange data.
The new broadcast messaging feature will be one of the first paid features for merchants who don’t use APIs.
Meta confirmed the new initiative to The Sun.
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