WhatsApp is finally introducing ads, but with a key limitation—they’ll only appear on the Status section, its version of Instagram Stories. The move, confirmed by Meta, means users will encounter ads after viewing a few Status updates, similar to how ads appear between Stories on Instagram. The company insists it won’t use personal data like messages or call logs for targeting, instead relying on broader signals such as location, language, and followed Channels.
Alongside ads, WhatsApp is rolling out monetization options for creators and businesses. Channels, the app’s broadcast feature, will now allow select accounts to offer paid subscriptions for exclusive content, with payments processed via app stores. Meta reports that 1.5 billion users engage with Status and Channels daily, making it a lucrative new revenue stream. Until now, WhatsApp’s earnings came mainly from WhatsApp Business and click-to-WhatsApp ads.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s VP of Product, called the shift a “natural evolution” for the platform, responding to business demand for more promotional tools. The changes will roll out globally in the coming months, marking WhatsApp’s biggest step toward monetization since its acquisition by Meta. While ads are confined to Status for now, the move signals Meta’s broader strategy to integrate its ad ecosystem across all its platforms—whether users like it or not.