WhatsApp to Introduce Ads in Updates Tab as Meta Seeks New Revenue Streams
- tech360.tv
- Jun 17
- 1 min read
WhatsApp users will soon begin seeing advertisements in the app’s Updates tab, as Meta Platforms moves to monetise the messaging service’s massive global user base.
The ads will not appear in personal chats, calls or groups, which remain end-to-end encrypted, WhatsApp said Monday in a blog post.
The Updates tab, used by as many as 1.5 billion people daily, will be the only section of the app where ads are displayed. WhatsApp developers confirmed that the personal messaging experience will remain unchanged.
The move marks a significant shift for the platform, which was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton with a promise to remain ad-free. Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014, and both founders left the company a few years later.
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has been exploring ways to generate revenue from the app for years. In 2025, Meta reported USD 164.5 billion in revenue, with USD 160.6 billion coming from advertising.
WhatsApp said ads will be targeted based on non-personal information such as a user’s age, location, language, followed channels and ad interactions. The company emphasised that it will not use personal messages, calls or group memberships to target ads.
The advertising rollout is part of a broader monetisation strategy. WhatsApp also announced that channels will be able to charge monthly subscription fees for exclusive updates. Additionally, business owners can pay to promote their channels to new users.
WhatsApp will show ads only in the Updates tab, not in personal chats
Ads will be targeted using non-personal data like age, location and language
Personal messages, calls and groups remain end-to-end encrypted
Source: AP NEWS
