According to a document obtained by TechCrunch, Facebook plans to place ads into its messaging app. The document, which has been kept private, states that users who have previously opened a chat with a business that runs a page on Facebook will be open to receiving ads in the form of messages from that same page.
While it is sudden, it comes as no surprise as Facebook has been pushing users to install the standalone Facebook Messenger app, whilst also making businesses use it to communicate with fans and customers.
The company gave the following statement to TechCrunch:
“Our aim with Messenger is to create a high quality, engaging experience for 800 million people around the world, and that includes ensuring people do not experience unwanted messages of any type.”
However Facebook has been subtly increasing the number of pages and businesses that use Messenger as a customer service platform; the social media monolith is also rolling out a new short, custom URL that when clicked upon, initiates a chat with the business. For example fb.com/msg/absolutegeeks opens up a chat with the Absolute Geeks Facebook page.
The monetisation of Facebook Messenger, while necessary, casts a spotlight on a statement Mark Zuckerberg made in 2014 after the acquisition of WhatsApp:
“I don’t personally think ads are the right way to monetize messaging.”
Source: TechCrunch
