End of an era: WhatsApp to start showing ads in status section

Meta has officially announced that advertisements will now become part of WhatsApp, ending the platform’s long-standing ad-free experience. The new change marks a major shift in how WhatsApp generates revenue.

For now, ads will appear only in the Status section—similar to Instagram Stories. Users will see short ads in between viewing their contacts’ status updates. This rollout mirrors Meta’s wider approach to monetizing its social platforms.

According to Meta, ad targeting will consider factors like country, city, language, and followed channels. Additionally, user engagement with ads will help refine what type of content is shown. However, personal data like phone numbers, messages, calls, and group info will not be used for ad targeting.

If users link their WhatsApp account to Meta’s Account Center, the platform may use preferences from connected apps like Facebook or Instagram to improve ad recommendations. This update aims to help businesses and creators promote their channels more effectively.

Meta also revealed that over 1.5 billion people use WhatsApp Status and Channels daily. Until now, WhatsApp earned money mainly through its Business Platform and Click-to-WhatsApp ads, but this new step introduces additional sources like search ads and subscriptions.

Vice President of WhatsApp, Eilis Newton Rex, stated that short ads will become a strong source of income. Meta will roll out these features gradually worldwide in the coming months, marking a new chapter since acquiring WhatsApp for $19 billion back in 2014.