California: WhatsApp has officially begun rolling out advertisements within its app, marking a major shift in the user experience. Initially available to a limited number of Android beta users, the ads now appear in Status updates and Promoted Channels, similar to Instagram Stories.
The Meta-owned messaging platform had announced in June 2025 that it would soon begin introducing ads, and now the feature is live—though still in a controlled beta phase.
According to reports, users will encounter sponsored content while viewing Status updates, and on channels promoted by businesses or brands. The design and experience are said to mirror Instagram’s ad format, ensuring a smooth transition for users.
As reported by tech portal WaBetaInfo, this update is currently limited to beta testers, indicating that WhatsApp is rolling it out gradually before a wider release.
Importantly, WhatsApp has reassured users that personal chats, group chats, calls, and messages will remain ad-free, preserving the core privacy-focused experience of the app.
Per Meta’s policy, the ads shown will be tailored based on location, language, and followed channels, but personal data such as phone numbers, messages, chat content, or group affiliations will not be used for ad targeting.
WhatsApp is launching three new ad formats as part of this move:
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Ads in Status Updates
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Promoted Channels
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Channel Subscription Promotions
This marks a significant shift in Meta’s monetization strategy for WhatsApp, a platform it acquired in 2014 for $19 billion. Now, 11 years later, WhatsApp is beginning its journey as a revenue-generating platform.
This update signals the beginning of a new era in WhatsApp’s user experience, blending business promotion with privacy.
