• Source:JND
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WhatsApp's Updates tab, which now collects Status updates and channels, is about to become the app's new ad playground. The firm says 1.5 billion daily visitors already scroll through this space, so it hopes ads can earn money here without messing up regular chats.

Crucially, promotional posts will never land in one-on-one or group threads, so users' privacy stays intact.

Ads Coming to the Updates Tab Only

The Updates tab—which houses Status updates and Channels—will now serve as the home for WhatsApp’s advertising efforts. According to the company, this section is already used by 1.5 billion people daily, making it the ideal space to test monetisation without disrupting the core chat experience.

Importantly, ads will not show up in personal chats or group messages, preserving the platform’s long-standing focus on privacy.

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What’s Changing: Three New Features

To go along with the shift, WhatsApp is unveiling three fresh tools for businesses and creators who want to grow:

1. Channel Subscriptions

Fans can back their favourite channel with a low monthly fee and unlock behind-the-scenes posts, polls, and other perks. That way creators and nonprofits can build tighter, revenue-supported communities right inside WhatsApp.

2. Promoted Channels

To make finding new voices faster, WhatsApp will feature paid-for channels higher in its browse directory. Giving channel admins a spotlight should help them gain fresh followers without endless sharing links.

3. Ads in Status

WhatsApp will start placing full-screen, skippable ads between Status slides, much like Instagram Stories. Tapping an ad launches a chat with the business and, if Status circles are ignored, the ads simply never appear.

What About Privacy?

WhatsApp still promises that its end-to-end encryption is unchanged. That means neither the app nor advertisers can peek at your chats, calls, or status updates. The firm also vows it will not pass your phone number to any ad partner.

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To show ads it thinks are useful, WhatsApp will tap only a tiny amount of info, namely:

  • Your country and language
  • The Channels you follow
  • Your ad interactions

If your WhatsApp is linked with Meta's Accounts Center, ad preferences from Facebook or Instagram may also influence the ads you see.

Conclusion

Although the move sounds major, WhatsApp is rolling out ads cautiously. By confining promos to the Updates tab and launching paid features plus promoted Channels, it hopes to earn money without overcrowding the main chat screen. For most people, messaging will stay just as it is-private, secure, and free of commercial clutter.