South Africa, June 18 -- This week, Meta announced it's adding new features to WhatsApp's Updates tab, home to Status updates and Channels. Used by 1.5 billion people globally each day, the tab will now include ads and subscription options - a move aimed at helping creators and businesses grow their presence without interrupting private conversations.

Here's what's changing:

Channel Subscriptions: You'll soon be able to subscribe to your favourite Channels (like news or sports updates) for a monthly fee to get exclusive content.

Promoted Channels: WhatsApp will begin recommending Channels to you based on your interests and location, giving admins a chance to grow their audience.

Ads in Status: Businesses will now be able to show produ...