WhatsApp has introduced adverts alongside messages. Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, announced the introduction of in-app ads through the “Updates” Tab, which displays statuses and channels. Ads will appear to users in the “Status” section, alongside statuses posted by friends or family members.

Meta has announced it will begin showing advertisements in WhatsApp's Status feature, marking a significant shift for the messaging platform that has remained largely ad-free since its acquisition by Facebook in 2014.

Signal's president, Meredith Whittaker, has criticized WhatsApp's introduction of ads and AI features, reaffirming Signal's dedication to user privacy

For years, WhatsApp resisted the advertising model even as its parent company heavily monetised its other platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Meta is adding three ad features to WhatsApp. This represents the company’s most significant monetization push for the messaging platform, which has become a global communication standard across multiple continents.