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Meta-Owned WhatsApp Starts in-App Ads for First Time

On Monday, June 16, 2025, WhatsApp announced it will roll out new advertisements and monetisation features globally within its Updates tab.
After years without advertisements, WhatsApp is introducing new revenue options designed to avoid disrupting personal conversations, addressing the increasing need for monetization.
The new features include ads in Status, promoted channels in Discovery, and paid subscriptions for Channels, while personal messages and calls remain encrypted and untouched by ad targeting.
WhatsApp’s VP Alice Newton Rex called ads a natural next step for the app’s monetization, while Meta’s business messaging lead Nikila Srinivasan emphasized that introducing these new features within the Updates tab minimizes disruption for users.
The rollout reflects Meta’s broader strategy to monetise WhatsApp’s over 3 billion users without compromising privacy, suggesting ads will disrupt users minimally and be separated from personal chats.

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NZ Herald

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Meta breaks promise, plans to introduce ads on WhatsApp

Meta has unveiled plans to introduce advertisements on WhatsApp, breaking a promise by the messaging app’s co-founder never to do so. In a major update...

4 hours ago·Auckland, New Zealand

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7NEWS Australia

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Big change coming to messaging service WhatsApp

The move is part of Meta’s attempt to monetise the app’s user base.

4 hours ago·Australia

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India Today

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WhatsApp starts showing advertisements, Meta says your personal chats will remain private

Meta has begun rolling out ads on WhatsApp for the first time, starting with its Updates tab. The move also includes channel subscriptions and promoted content, all outside private chats.

4 hours ago·India

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Newser

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In Break With Tradition, Ads Are Coming to WhatsApp

WhatsApp, long known for its ad-free messaging, is about to break with tradition and introduce advertisements for the first time. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, announced that ads will soon appear in the app's Updates section, which is used by around 1.5 billion people daily, the New York Times reports....

5 hours ago·Miami, United States

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India TV News

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WhatsApp to display ads in parts of messaging app, using user data for personalisation

WhatsApp announced on Monday that users will soon begin to see advertisements within specific sections of the app. This decision comes as parent company Meta Platforms explores new ways to generate revenue from its vast user base of billions. The ads will only appear in the Updates tab, which is utilised by approximately 1.5 billion people daily, ensuring that personal chat areas remain ad-free. In a blog post, WhatsApp reassured users that the …

5 hours ago·India

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