WhatsApp to introduce ads, ending years of 'no-advertising' policy WhatsApp has officially ended its long‑standing ad-free stance—starting June 16, 2025, ads will begin appearing in the Updates tab (formerly “Status”) and the Channels section . This move marks a major shift away from its founders’ “No ads! No games! No gimmicks!” philosophy . 📌 What’s changing? Where ads will show: exclusively in the Updates tab—Status and Channels—not in personal chats, voice/video calls, or group messages . Targeting: based on basic user info like location, language, channels followed, and ad interaction; if linked to Meta’s Account Center, ad preferences from Facebook/Instagram may also be used . New features for businesses: options now include channel subscriptions (with eventual 10% Meta fee), channel promotion, and ads in Status . 🔒 Privacy & Encryption WhatsApp assures that personal chats remain end‑to‑end encrypted and messages, calls, groups, phone numbers, or chat content won't be used for ad targeting . However, privacy advocates worry that even non‑intrusive ads could erode trust and shift WhatsApp toward Meta’s ad‑driven model . ⚠️ Reception & Implications User backlash: Many long-time users feel betrayed and are considering switching to privacy-first apps like Signal and Telegram . > “The moral of the story: Never trust the Zuck” . Signal’s stance: Its president criticized WhatsApp, reaffirming Signal’s commitment to an ad-free experience . Business strategy: For Meta, it’s about unlocking a massive new revenue stream—WhatsApp has over 3 billion monthly active users, with about 1.5 billion daily users in the Updates tab . Summary 📊 Aspect Details Effect on users No ads in personal chats; only in Updates tab. Monetization focus Business ads, paid channel services, promoted content. Privacy stance Encrypted chats safe; ads limited to metadata. User reaction Mixed—some unaffected, others appalled or migrating. Meta’s motive Expand ad revenue to yet another massive user base. This marks a dramatic pivot for WhatsApp—a move toward monetization aligned with Facebook and Instagram, potentially at the expense of its image as a pure, private messaging tool.