Outlook Business Desk
WhatsApp will begin showing ads in the Status (Updates) tab— visited by 1.5 billion users daily —while keeping private chats ad-free. The feature was officially announced on June 16, 2025, as part of Meta’s push to help businesses reach customers without disrupting private messaging.
Zuckerberg and WhatsApp have reassured users that personal messages, calls and group chats remain end‑to‑end encrypted and unaffected by ads.
Ads will appear only for users who access the Status/Updates tab; those who don’t use it won’t encounter ads at all.
WhatsApp is introducing ads in the Updates tab to help users discover businesses without interrupting personal chats. According to Alice Newton‑Rex, WhatsApp’s Head of Product, these status ads will let people explore new products and instantly start conversations with sellers.
WhatsApp ads will appear between Status updates, with frequency based on user activity. Alice Newton-Rex told Indian Express that businesses can manage these ads via Meta’s Ads Manager—just like on Facebook or Instagram. All ads will be reviewed before going live.
While WhatsApp earlier tested limited Status ads and promotional tools through WhatsApp Business, this is its first full-scale ad integration. Ads will now become a regular part of the app’s user interface, marking a major shift in its monetisation strategy.
Industry experts have long expected Meta to monetise WhatsApp more aggressively, given its massive global user base. While no exact timeline is announced, the company confirmed that the ad rollout will happen gradually over the coming months.