2 min read
WhatsApp is preparing a rare change to its experience as Meta gets ready to place ads inside the Updates tab, which includes Status and Channels. The decision signals Meta’s push to build new revenue streams while keeping WhatsApp’s private messaging untouched.
Meta says personal chats will stay fully encrypted, and no ads will appear in conversations, groups, or calls. The company is stressing this point as it introduces ads into one of the app’s busiest sections.
Status remains one of WhatsApp’s most popular features, with millions sharing short-lived photos, videos, voice notes, and text updates. Meta now plans to insert ads between these status posts, similar to how sponsored content appears inside Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories.
The company says the goal is to give businesses new visibility and make it easier for users to discover products without leaving the app. For businesses, the update could offer faster engagement. Users who tap an ad will be able to open a chat with the brand immediately, which Meta believes could strengthen trust and boost conversions.
For regular users, daily messaging will stay the same. Only the Updates tab will receive ads, although Meta is exploring similar options for Channels in the future.
WhatsApp has stayed mostly ad-free for more than a decade, despite serving over two billion users. With Meta investing heavily in WhatsApp’s business ecosystem, this shift marks a new phase for the platform. The company says it will watch user reactions closely as ads begin to roll out, aiming to keep the app simple, private, and familiar.
