WhatsApp is officially getting ads for the first time, starting with Status and channels
For the first time in over 15 years, WhatsApp will start showing ads in the app, beginning with the Status feature, similar to Instagram Stories. Ads will appear between user Status updates in the Updates tab, where temporary photos, text, videos, and voice notes are shared. This ends WhatsApp’s long-standing ad-free policy, in place since Meta acquired the platform for $19 billion in 2014.
While personal conversations remain unaffected, Meta emphasizes that both one-on-one and group chats will continue to be free of ads at this stage. Ads shown in Status updates will use personalized targeting based on general information, such as a user’s country, city, language, followed channels, and previous ad interactions. For those who have linked WhatsApp with Meta’s Account Center, ad targeting may also draw from Facebook and Instagram preferences, though message content, call data, and group activity won’t be used. Meta further claims it will not sell or share users’ phone numbers with advertisers.
Expanding monetization, creators and businesses can pay to promote their WhatsApp Channels, enhancing their reach within the app. Some channel creators will additionally be able to offer paid subscriptions for exclusive content, with Meta initially not taking a portion of those payments.
- Instant Messenger
- Free • Proprietary
Related news
External links
- Helping you Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsAppWhatsApp Blog • Official source
- Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsAppMeta Newsroom • Official source
- WhatsApp's Thread on X@whatsapp on X • Official source
- WhatsApp Introduces Ads in Its AppThe New York Times
- WhatsApp to start showing more adverts in messaging appBBC News
- WhatsApp is officially getting adsThe Verge
- Meta says you'll soon be getting ads on WhatsAppNeowin
Comments
Yet again, another reason to use Signal and universal profile rcs.
As if they aren't already making billions even when Meta gets in trouble with the law repeatedly.
proprietary software doin what proprietary software does best: enshittify it
This is pure ideology. FOSS or otherwise open source software also has ads just a lot less frequently. Plus for majority of people and FOSS programs there is little difference because next to no one is auditing the code and majority is just downloading the binary.
@Navi I am not aware of too many major foss projects having ads can you specify some? I agree on your second point, in the end you always have to trust someone else to keep your trust.
i could agree if we were talking about very small FOSS projects, but this ISN'T true. If a project is FOSS, I can just fork it and remove the ads. Plus, all the big FOSS projects, such as Linux, FreeBSD, Signal, OpenSSL, GrapheneOS, AOSP, Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, GNU Utils, Ffmpeg and soooo many other ones are constantly audited, they provide reproducible builds and are also watched upon by the community as a whole, discovering vulnerabilities and adding features and fixes.
I agree that if I start a small android FOSS app, its security isn't gonna be much and 90% of people will just download the apk, however if YOU decide to take a look at the code, incoporate any part into your app, fix bugs etc that IS possible. On non-free apps that's just not possible by design.