WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has started showing ads in its app for the first time. The company announced this change on June 16, 2025. Ads will only appear in the Updates tab, which includes Channels and Status. Private and group chats will not have ads.
WhatsApp has 2 billion users every month. Until now, it made money mainly from WhatsApp Business and some small ads in certain countries. Now, it wants to earn more by using the Updates tab.
About 1.5 billion people use Channels and Status every day. WhatsApp will also offer paid channel subscriptions and let channels pay to appear in the Explore section. Ads will also show up in WhatsApp Stories, which works like Instagram Stories.
Meta says it will only use basic details, like your country, city, device language, and what you do in the Updates tab, to show ads. The company will not look at your private messages, calls, or group chats to decide which ads you see.
All personal chats will stay end-to-end encrypted. WhatsApp also promises not to sell or share your phone number with advertisers.
WhatsApp leaders say the Updates tab is the right place for ads because it does not interrupt private conversations. If you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends or family, you will not see ads.
Meta wants to find new ways to make money as online advertising becomes more competitive and privacy rules get stricter. By keeping ads out of private chats, WhatsApp hopes to keep users’ trust while growing its business.
This change is important because it shows how big messaging apps are trying to make money without giving up user privacy. Other apps may follow WhatsApp’s example as they look for new ways to earn income.