- WhatsApp is testing ads in the Status section of the Updates tab.
- New paid subscriptions and promoted Channels are also rolling out.
- Private messages remain untouched and end-to-end encrypted.
Ads have crept into every corner of Meta’s ecosystem. Facebook, Instagram, and Reels are filled with them. For years, WhatsApp stood apart as the company’s only major platform without advertising. Now, that’s changing: ads are coming to WhatsApp, too.
Meta revealed in a new announcement that WhatsApp is testing ads in the Status row at the top of the Updates tab. This is the first time we’ve seen advertising in WhatsApp since Facebook acquired the popular messaging app in 2014. But don’t worry, Meta insists your private messages remain end-to-end encrypted and are still off limits for advertising. The new ad placements are limited to Status updates, not your personal chats.
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