đź“Ł Big Changes on WhatsApp: Ads & Subscriptions Coming to Updates Tab
WhatsApp, part of the Meta family, is opening a new chapter in monetization as it introduces advertisements and paid subscriptions—but only within the Updates tab. This feature, comprising Status and Channels, sees about 1.5 billion daily users, making it the perfect testing ground without touching private chats huffingtonpost.es+4campaignasia.com+4m.economictimes.com+4huffingtonpost.es+11businessinsider.com+11linkedin.com+11.
🛍 Ads Enter the Scene
Starting June 16, 2025, users will begin seeing story-style ads when browsing Status in the Updates tab. These allow immediate click-to-message with a business—mirroring Instagram’s familiar format. Crucially, ads won’t appear in personal chat threads, preserving WhatsApp’s commitment to privacy about.fb.com+3businessinsider.com+3apnews.com+3.
đź’¸ Subscription Model for Channels
WhatsApp is also rolling out a paid subscription feature for Channels. Creators and organizations can offer exclusive content behind a paywall, turning their channel into a direct revenue stream. Admins can also promote their Channels within WhatsApp’s directory to reach more followers businessinsider.com.
đź”’ Privacy Still Central
Meta is doubling down on user privacy: private messages, calls, and group chats remain end-to-end encrypted and untouched by ads. Targeting relies only on basic info—like country, language, and followed Channels—never using phone numbers or private conversations cbsnews.com+9apnews.com+9about.fb.com+9.
🌍 Monetization Without Intrusion
Meta frames this move as a natural next step in evolving WhatsApp into a multi-functional platform—not just for messaging, but for discovery and commerce. With WhatsApp already hosting 2+ billion monthly users, adding ad space and subscriptions in Updates taps into a vast, untapped opportunity without disrupting core chat functions huffingtonpost.es+9businessinsider.com+9campaignasia.com+9.
🔄 Gradual Rollout & User Control
The rollout is happening gradually across regions, giving users time to adapt . For those uninterested in the Updates tab, it remains optional—you can disable it entirely in settings and continue messaging as usual huffingtonpost.es+11m.economictimes.com+11campaignasia.com+11.
🧠Final Thoughts
WhatsApp’s introduction of ads and subscriptions in the Updates tab marks the app’s most significant monetization strategy yet. It strikes a careful balance—offering revenue opportunities for businesses and creators, while preserving privacy and chat integrity. For users, the impact is minimal; for Meta, it’s a move toward transforming WhatsApp into a broader digital service, much like Asia’s super apps.
What This Means for You
- Want an ad-free experience? Skip the Updates tab or turn it off.
- Creators/businesses: Paid Channels and promotions offer new growth tools.
- Marketers: Story-style ads with click-to-message integration provide a new channel for engagement.
Overall, Meta is aiming to evolve WhatsApp into a diverse, business-friendly ecosystem, and these changes signal the beginning of a new era. Stay tuned as the rollout continues.
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