WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging app with over two billion users, announced on June 16, 2025, that it will roll out its first major WhatsApp advertising features. This marks a big change for the Meta-owned platform, which has stayed mostly ad-free since its launch in 2009. This news, reported by AFP, shows WhatsApp’s shift toward monetization while promising to protect user privacy.
What Are The New WhatsApp Advertising Features?
WhatsApp’s new WhatsApp advertising features will appear only in the Updates tab, which includes Status (like Instagram Stories) and Channels, used by 1.5 billion people daily. These features won’t affect personal chats, calls, or groups, which stay ad-free and end-to-end encrypted. Here’s what’s included:
- Status Ads: Businesses can now show ads in the Status section, where users share temporary photos, videos, or text that vanish after 24 hours. These ads will blend with your contacts’ updates.
- Promoted Channels: Businesses and creators can pay to boost their Channels in the Explore section, helping them reach more followers.
- Paid Subscriptions: Channels can charge a monthly fee for exclusive content, letting creators earn money directly from fans.
These features will roll out slowly over the next few months, starting in select countries. Users who only use WhatsApp for personal messaging can turn off the Updates tab in settings to avoid ads entirely.
Also Read: 50+ Best WhatsApp About Quotes To Suit All Mood
How Will WhatsApp Protect Privacy?
Meta knows privacy is a big concern for WhatsApp users, especially after past debates about data sharing. The company promises that WhatsApp advertising features won’t compromise personal data.
Key privacy safeguards include:
- End-to-End Encryption: Personal messages, calls, and statuses remain encrypted, meaning no one, not even Meta, can read or hear them.
- No Phone Number Sharing: WhatsApp won’t sell or share your phone number with advertisers.
- Limited Ad Targeting: Ads will use basic info like your country, city, device language, followed Channels, and ad interactions. If you link WhatsApp to Facebook or Instagram, ads may be more personalized based on your Meta activity.
- No Chat Data Used: Your private chats or group messages won’t influence the ads you see.
Nikila Srinivasan, Meta’s Vice President of Product Management, said, “We’ve planned for years to build a business that doesn’t disrupt your chats. The Updates tab is the right place for these features.” This approach aims to balance monetization with WhatsApp’s core promise of privacy.
Also Read: How To See Deleted Messages On WhatsApp- Tricks You Need To Know
Are you still browsing through your broken screen? Don’t worry! Book at-home mobile phone screen repair with Cashify—an affordable and one-stop destination for all your mobile phone needs. In case you break your screen within 1 month of repair, we will replace your screen again—for FREE.
