WhatsApp Introduces Ads in Status Updates—Here’s How It Affects You
Meta has officially confirmed that WhatsApp will soon display ads in its Status feature (similar to Instagram and Facebook Stories). This marks a major shift for the messaging platform, which has remained ad-free since its launch in 2009.
Breaking: Ads will appear in Status updates starting late 2024, with full rollout in 2025. Chats remain ad-free for now.
Key Details About WhatsApp Ads
- Where Ads Will Appear: Only in the Status tab (not in chats or groups)
- Rollout Date: Phased testing begins late 2024, full launch expected in 2025
- Ad Format: Full-screen vertical ads (similar to Instagram Stories)
- Targeting: Based on Meta’s existing ad system (Facebook/Instagram data)
Why Is WhatsApp Adding Ads Now?
With over 2.7 billion monthly users, WhatsApp represents one of Meta’s last major platforms without significant monetization. Ads in Status could generate billions in annual revenue.
“This is a logical next step for Meta. WhatsApp has been free for users, but running such a large service requires significant infrastructure costs. Ads in Status are a compromise—keeping chats private while monetizing the Stories-like feature.”
— Sarah Perez, TechCrunch
Will Ads Affect Privacy?
- End-to-end encryption remains for messages (ads won’t scan private chats)
- Users can hide specific advertisers (similar to Facebook/Instagram)
- No ads in one-on-one or group chats (for now)
Can You Disable WhatsApp Ads?
Currently, there’s no official way to opt out of Status ads. However:
- Limit ad personalization in WhatsApp settings
- Switch to alternatives like Signal or Telegram (no ads)
How Businesses Will Be Affected
- New ad options to promote Status updates
- Higher visibility for brands using WhatsApp Business
- Potential paid features to avoid ads (unconfirmed)
User Reactions
- Some users accept ads as inevitable for a free service
- Others threaten to switch to Telegram or Signal
- Privacy advocates worry about expanded data collection
