WhatsApp is set to expand its advertising, with more users worldwide expected to see ads in two specific sections of the app. The Meta-owned messaging platform has begun notifying some users that ads will soon appear in the “Status” section and within “Channels.”
Importantly, the company has reassured users that these ads will not appear in private one-on-one or group chats. Personal messages, calls, and your own Status updates will remain end-to-end encrypted and will not be used to target advertisements. The ads are confined to the public-facing parts of the app: the Updates tab, where you view friends’ Statuses, and within the broadcast Channels you choose to follow.
When users see an ad in Status, they will be able to interact with it to discover a business, view its profile, or start a conversation about the promoted product. Options to hide or report an ad will also be available through a three-dot menu.
WhatsApp states that ad targeting will be based on general information like a user’s country, device language, and the Channels they follow or engage with. The company emphasizes that it will not use the content of private messages, contacts, or group memberships to personalize these ads. Users can manage their ad preferences through the Account Centre in the app’s settings.
This move is part of Meta’s broader strategy to monetize WhatsApp, following the path of its other platforms, Facebook and Instagram, which have long incorporated advertising.
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