After years of resisting in-app ads, WhatsApp is finally opening its doors to monetisation. In a blog post dated June 17, 2025, Meta announced that the messaging platform will now include ads and paid features, marking a pivotal moment in its evolution.
With over two billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is among the last of Meta’s major apps to roll out advertising. While Facebook and Instagram are already deeply monetised, WhatsApp had remained relatively ad-free — until now.
Meta Ads on WhatsApp
What’s Changing: New Features in the Updates Tab
Meta is introducing three key monetisation features, all located in WhatsApp’s ‘Updates’ tab — the section that hosts Status and Channels. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Paid Channel Subscriptions
Creators will now have the option to charge a monthly fee to give followers access to exclusive content. This opens up a new revenue stream for content creators and brands using WhatsApp Channels.
2. Promoted Channels
To boost visibility, WhatsApp is adding the ability for creators and businesses to promote their channels within the app’s Discovery section. This will help new or growing channels reach a wider audience through paid placements.
3. Status Ads
Just like Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories, WhatsApp Status will begin showing ads. This feature brings WhatsApp in line with its sister platforms, offering advertisers a new way to engage users.
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Your Chats Are Still Private
Meta has clarified that these changes will not affect personal chats. All ads and monetisation tools are limited to the Updates tab — meaning if you only use WhatsApp to message friends or family, your experience won’t change.
Additionally, end-to-end encryption remains intact. WhatsApp reiterated that private messages, calls, and personal statuses remain completely secure — not even Meta can access them.
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What This Means for Users and Creators
For casual users, the WhatsApp experience remains largely untouched — unless you regularly use the Status or Channels feature. However, for creators and businesses, this marks a new era where WhatsApp becomes a potential revenue and discovery platform.
Closing Thoughts
Meta’s move to bring ads to WhatsApp has been long anticipated. By keeping these features separate from private messaging, the platform aims to balance user privacy with revenue generation. As WhatsApp joins the rest of Meta’s monetised apps, how users adapt to these changes will shape the future of communication on the world’s most popular messaging service.
