Meta has launched its first ads initiative on WhatsApp, a major shift for the messaging platform which has long positioned itself as private and ad-free.
The ads will appear only in the Updates tab, the section where WhatsApp users view Status posts and follow Channels.
This area draws approximately 1.5 billion users daily. Ads will not be shown in private chats, group conversations, or call screens, all of which remain end-to-end encrypted.
WhatsApp head Will Cathcart reassured users that the main chat interface will remain unchanged and free of ads, with ads only appearing to those who navigate to the Updates tab.
The advertising rollout includes three main formats. First, Status ads will appear between user-generated updates. Second, promoted Channels will give businesses and creators the option to pay for better visibility in the channel directory.
Third, paid Channel subscriptions will allow creators to charge for exclusive content, with Meta either taking a commission or, in some cases, waiving fees altogether.
Ad targeting will rely on non-sensitive information such as age, city or country, language, followed channels, and interactions with ads.
WhatsApp users may also see ad preferences applied from Meta’s broader Accounts Centre, but the company insists that private chats and call content will never be used to inform advertising.
Meta sees this move as a major opportunity for growth. With Facebook and Instagram already saturated in terms of monetization, messaging apps like WhatsApp are viewed as the next big revenue frontier.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pointed to Asia’s super apps as models of how messaging can expand into commerce and content. Analysts estimate that WhatsApp could generate up to $ 10 billion per year by 2028 if the average revenue per active user in the Updates tab reaches $6.
Following the announcement, Meta’s stock rose as investors welcomed the potential for new income streams.
Meta continues to emphasize that privacy remains a core principle. All personal messages and calls will stay fully encrypted and insulated from ad targeting. According to Cathcart, users who stick to basic messaging features may never see any ads at all.
Many users may not notice a change unless they frequently use the Updates tab. While some view the move as a natural evolution, others remain cautious about what this could mean for WhatsApp’s identity as a private, no-frills communication tool.
By Dennis MwangiÂ
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