Kakao is preparing a new version of 'Friend Talk' that allows businesses (corporations) to send advertising messages without adding friends (channels) on KakaoTalk.
On the 5th, according to industry sources, Kakao is developing a new version of the 'Friend Talk' service that enables corporations to send advertising messages without users adding them as friends (channels) on KakaoTalk. It is reported that beta testing is underway with a goal for launch within the year. Friend Talk is a marketing biz messaging service operated by Kakao.
In the existing Friend Talk service, KakaoTalk users had to add a specific business (corporation) as a friend in order to receive messages. However, the new version of Friend Talk being developed by Kakao will allow messages to be sent without adding friends based on users' consent to receive advertisements. When this service is launched, Kakao's commission revenue is expected to increase. However, it seems that the number of advertising messages received by KakaoTalk users will also rise.
An IT industry official noted, 'If users have previously given consent to receive advertisements during sign-up processes on specific corporate websites, they will be able to receive advertising Friend Talk messages without registering as friends on KakaoTalk.' They added, 'This will lead to an increase in advertising spam messages from corporations that users do not wish to receive on KakaoTalk.'
The government announced measures to prevent illegal spam last November, promising strong sanctions against spam text messages. However, the regulations are limited to text messages, and regulations for spam messages on messenger platforms like KakaoTalk are currently inadequate. Since corporations send advertising messages based on users' consent to receive ads, it is not illegal under current laws. Koh Nam-hyun, director of the Digital User Base Division at the Korea Communications Commission, stated, 'We are internally reviewing spam message regulations on platforms like KakaoTalk.'
Kakao said, 'It is true that internal beta testing is underway, but we cannot provide information on the timing and content of the update.'