Ever wondered when WhatsApp would finally join the advertising game? That moment has arrived—but with a twist.
After years of resisting ads, WhatsApp just announced its biggest move yet into monetization.
But before you panic—no, your private chats won’t suddenly be plastered with banners.
The new ad features will live exclusively in the Updates tab—home to Channels and Status, which now see 1.5 billion daily users.
Why Now?
Pressure to boost revenue has been growing since Meta bought WhatsApp back in 2014.
While Instagram and Facebook rake in profits through ads, WhatsApp has mostly stayed out of the fray.
Aside from WhatsApp Business promos and limited tests.
But this time, WhatsApp insists they’ve thought it through.
“We believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features to work,” the company said.
It promised no interruptions in personal chats and the option to deactivate Updates altogether.
It’s a careful balancing act—bringing in revenue without breaking user trust. Will it work?
Time—and the reaction of WhatsApp’s famously privacy-conscious users—will tell.
