WhatsApp has announced it will begin rolling out its first major advertising features, a significant shift for the Meta-owned platform that has largely avoided ads since its inception.
The new ad tools, which will appear only in the Updates tab (home to Channels and Status), include paid channel subscriptions, promoted channels in the Discovery section, and ads within Status updates.
WhatsApp says users who only use the app for personal messaging will not be affected.
Read also
- Nigeria needs $1bn low-interest investment to cut fish imports by 50% — TADAN
- British investment firm injects £1.09b into African businesses to create jobs
- APPLY NOW: Dental Nurse
- Lagos to launch leather hub in Mushin to empower SMEs
- APPLY NOW: Front Desk Officer
With over two billion monthly users, the move signals Meta’s push to monetize WhatsApp’s large business and content audience without compromising its core privacy promises.
“We believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features to work,” said WhatsApp, adding that personal messages and group chats remain end-to-end encrypted and ad-free.
Small businesses and creators using Channels or Status may benefit from greater visibility and monetization, while WhatsApp maintains that only limited data—like country, city, and language—will be used for ad targeting.
Discover more from SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
