Facebook Messenger (NASDAQ:FB) will now feature ads.
Advertisements will be included directly into the chatting app by the second quarter of 2016. Up until now, the social media site offered plenty of ads but its Messenger services had managed to steer free of publicity by other companies.
At first, brands will only be able to send ads to users who have previously contacted them through messenger. Facebook has yet to discuss the company’s monetization plans for the chatting app.
Facebook Messenger has been used for direct business-to-consumer communication–ads will expand this relationship between users and companies.
It is unclear whether or not Facebook will also expand its inclusion of ads to WhatsApp, which hit 1 billion users worldwide earlier this month.
Facebook Messenger is also planning a couple major changes to the app’s functionality.
FB stock is up 1.06% Friday.
More From InvestorPlace:
