WhatsApp is rolling out ads within its Updates tab, which includes Channels and Status features used by 1.5 billion people daily. These new ad-related features are designed to help users discover content and support creators and businesses without impacting personal chats.
Users can now subscribe to Channels for a monthly fee to receive exclusive updates, while channel admins can promote their channels to increase visibility. Additionally, ads will appear in Status, allowing users to discover new businesses and initiate conversations about promoted products or services. All these ad features are strictly confined to the Updates tab, keeping personal chats free from ads.
Privacy and Ad Targeting
WhatsApp continues to enforce end-to-end encryption on personal messages, calls, and statuses, ensuring no one, including WhatsApp, can access this content. Ads are targeted using limited data such as location (country or city), language, channels followed, and user interaction with ads. For users linked to Meta Accounts Center, ad preferences and cross-account information are also used. Importantly, WhatsApp will never sell or share phone numbers with advertisers, and personal chats or groups do not influence ad targeting.
By placing ads exclusively in the Updates tab, WhatsApp aims to create a business model that supports admins, organizations, and businesses without disrupting the private messaging experience. This approach balances monetization with user privacy and chat integrity.